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Canada's great, shareable storiesFri, 09 Dec 2016 15:31:51 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/http://1.gravatar.com/blavatar/15edae77ebfa450ee5bb897103fdef31?s=96&d=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngPage not found – canada.comhttp://o.canada.com
How Holland America is changing the Mexican Riviera – and itselfhttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/how-holland-america-is-changing-the-mexican-riviera-and-itself
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/how-holland-america-is-changing-the-mexican-riviera-and-itself#respondWed, 07 Dec 2016 22:30:31 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=762012]]>PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – Sometimes, a good cruise is like a visit from an old friend. That’s the case for me this week as I cruise aboard Holland America Line’s gracious 1,916-guest Westerdamto the splendid Mexican Riviera on Mexico’s Pacific Coast.

I’ve been cruising to the Mexican Riviera for over a decade now. I’ve also been sailing with Holland America for the past eleven years, having amassed two-star Mariner status with the line long before I’d ever begun writing about cruising and cruise ships as a career. Both line and destination have changed in the intervening years. Fortunately, that change has been for the better.

A decade ago, the Mexican Riviera was overloaded with cruise ships. It wasn’t uncommon to have three – sometimes four – ships calling on Puerto Vallarta on a single day. Prices were low, the weather was hot, and for many cruisers on the West Coast, a voyage to the Mexican Riviera was one of the most cost-effective cruises they could take.

And then one day, the music stopped. Reports of tourists caught in the crossfire of the drug trade made the news. It was largely overblown and hugely political (check the stats on how many folks are shot each year in Chicago to see what I mean), but the damage was done: the cruise lines pulled out, and by 2012, the Mexican Riviera was a ghost town.

While Holland America has had a handful of sailings here in the past couple years, they’ve been few and far between. This year marks the first season that the line has deployed one of its larger Vista Class ships on voyages out of San Diego for the better part of the winter season. It’s a huge commitment that will no doubt please cruisers who know and love this region, and give those that haven’t had the pleasure the chance to experience it for themselves.

Westerdam’s weeklong cruises to the Mexican Riviera depart Saturdays from San Diego, California. Each voyage includes three relaxing days at sea, along with calls on the ‘Big Three’ ports of the Mexican Riviera: Cabo San Lucas; Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta. I’ve long appreciated all three ports for their history, culture and friendly locals, but on this voyage, I see a marked change from past cruises, and it’s for the better.

Appreciative of the business that the cruise ships bring, tour guides, locals and vendors in every town have been nothing but hospitable. The hassling and haggling has gone down substantially in most areas from what it was a decade ago, and the city of Mazatlán even employs Canadian and American residents living in the city for the winter to act as tourism ambassadors to visiting guests. It’s a lovely touch that really adds to the friendly atmosphere of that great city, and takes some of the intimidation out for the first-time visitor to Mexico.

As the Mexican Riviera has changed, so too has Holland America. In recent months, the line has rolled out a new logo; a new tagline (“Savor the Journey”), and a new ship, the elegant ms Koningsdam. It has also carved out partnerships with America’s Test Kitchen, BBC Earth, and B.B. King’s All-Stars Band, playing some of the best jazz I’ve heard at sea onboard.

The line is also embarking on a major refurbishment program, which Westerdam will receive the full benefits of in her spring drydock. This refit will see the line’s new music venues, like the Lincoln Center Stage and Billboard Onboard added to the vessel, along with new verandah staterooms and upgraded suite furnishings.

In many ways, Westerdam is the perfect ship for the Mexican Riviera run. At 935 feet in length, she’s big enough to have 10 bars and lounges, eight restaurants and cafes, two outdoor swimming pools (plus a third hydrotherapy pool that is available as part of the Greenhouse Spa’s Thermal Suite), and a wonderful wraparound promenade deck book-ended amidships by two sets of glass elevators that race up the ship’s 11 passenger decks.

Most ships of this size would carry nearly 3,000 guests, but Westerdam holds a little more than half that amount. That means fewer lines and more choice.

Holland America is also taking a more cultural approach to its Mexican Riviera sailings. On my voyage, we have a group of ‘Mexican Ambassadors’ that have been delighting guests with traditional folkloric dances by the pool deck, dance classes, and locally-inspired arts and craft lessons. Guests could also take part in a Spanish-language class that focuses on how to learn to order food and beverages ashore (probably the thing most of us will want to do), or enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine at special buffets out by the Sea View Pool.

While many changes have come to Holland America, one thing has stayed the same: the line’s fantastic Indonesian and Filipino crewmembers provide a level of service that’s quickly slipping away from many big-ship lines.

If you’re ready to go cruising, Westerdam sails to the Mexican Riviera every Saturday between now and the end of February. Next year, she returns for another winter season that begins on November 24 and runs through February of 2018.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/how-holland-america-is-changing-the-mexican-riviera-and-itself/feed0ftdc_hollandamerica_todossantos-0604aaronpsaundersFood for the body and the soulhttp://o.canada.com/life/food-for-the-body-and-the-soul
http://o.canada.com/life/food-for-the-body-and-the-soul#respondTue, 06 Dec 2016 12:00:04 +0000http://o.canada.com?p=761988&preview_id=761988]]>Chef David Wolfman remembers sitting at the kitchen table as a boy, gathering with his family over plates of wind-dried salmon and bannock.

A member of the Xaxli’p First Nation in British Columbia, Wolfman’s mother left the reserve for Toronto, settling in Regent Park. Indigenous food in the city was scarce, but she fed him stories about wild berries that grew outside her cabin, and about feasts of candied and smoked salmon that marked celebrations. It wasn’t until he was in his twenties, visiting his mother’s reserve, that he understood.

“The stories and the food are inseparable,” he told us.

Wolfman started a path of personal, cultural and culinary discovery. He spoke with indigenous people on reserves and in cities across the country, learning from Mohawk, Cree and Inuit elders. He took in the traditions and food, discovering new ways to recreate old recipes and reconnecting with his heritage.

Take salmon. It’s not just a stubborn fish that swims against the current—it’s a reminder of the cricket song that marks the salmon run, the generations-old techniques for drying the catch, and the way fishermen share their bounty as a sign of their connection to the land, leaving the entrails in the woods for other animals to eat. For his people, food is more than nourishment; it’s spiritual.

There’s a new cadre of indigenous chefs who are part historian, part cultural ambassador. Piecing together recipes long passed down orally, Wolfman helps people find a sense of history and identity through food.

Breaking bread together might seem like a small thing, but it’s something.

For many experiencing the residual effects of residential schools, food provides a link to a culture they didn’t even know they were missing.

Three branches of Jesse Thistle’s Métis-Cree family endured the violence of land grabs and colonization, passing down the trauma through generations. In the aftermath, Thistle was raised by his grandparents but alienated from his culture. Now a Trudeau scholar and leading voice on intergenerational trauma, part of his journey to reconnect with his heritage has been through food.

“Rediscovering our food is a return to fundamentals, to our relationship with the land and our history,” he says.

As indigenous fare finds a place among the Mexican taquerias and Vietnamese pho joints in cities from coast to coast, it’s leading to new conversations and cultural understandings.

“As a tool of reconciliation, food can teach people about our history,” Thistle adds.

Breaking bread together might seem like a small thing, but it’s something.

The next time you’re out for a meal, look for an indigenous restaurant. We promise you more than good eats — one of Wolfman’s most popular dishes pairs grilled venison with birch syrup, brown rice and toasted pine nuts. Exploring indigenous cuisine, the stories and culture, offers non-indigenous Canadians a way in. Traditional cooking could be an entry point to the complex and difficult project of reconciliation, one that leaves many wondering where to start.

There are some honest and difficult conversations ahead on our path to reconciliation. Maybe those conversations are best served with food.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of theWE movement,which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop-culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES

Big release on Dec. 9: The Office Christmas Party.

Big picture: It’s The Hangover meet The Office meets Bill Murray in the final scene of Scrooged. The Office Christmas Party is exactly what you’d expect — a movie about an office party gone wild. That means a lot of body shots, physical comedy and a variety of disturbing St. Nicks, from skanky Santa to rapping Santa. Hangover style, we get an early glimpse of what’s left of the office in the aftermath of this holiday bash.

It looks like 25 frat parties were held in it simultaneously — all chaired by U.S. Olympian swimmer Ryan Lochte — and then Charlie Sheen handpicked the debauched rubble to host an epic bachelor party. Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Olivia Munn, and Ghostbuster standout Kate McKinnon co-star. If you like your office parties with reindeer drinking out of the toilet (and let’s be honest: who doesn’t?) than this seasonal comedy is for you.

Forecast: I predict (a.k.a. hope) that the original Clark Griswold will make a profanity and eggnog-laced party cameo about the “Hap happiest Christmas” and Danny Kaye.

Big picture: Just in time for the family holiday season … it’s Victoria Secret’s annual lingerie-palooza from Paris! For one night only, the City of Lights becomes the City of Angels! (Sorry, that was low-hanging writer’s fruit). Supermodel Bella Hadid takes to the catwalk for the first time as Victoria’s Secret Angels descend on the French capital. This year’s fanciest bra is called the Bright Night, and features 9,000 gem stones, enough karat gold to fuel a small nation’s economy for decades and 27,000 crystals. It’s worth US$3 million. (It’s also the ultimate nightmare for a male teenager already inept at unclasping a bra strap. “Diamonds! WTF!”)

This year, the show’s website teaches us how to “train like an angel,” including enough hardcore workout images and video to make me wonder if the Angels all secretly double as Vampire Slayers. Considerably less scantily clad, and less-likely to battle the undead, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga (OK, she could probably handle her own during a stake fight), and The Weeknd will also grace the stage with music.

Honourable mention: White Rabbit Project (Dec. 9, Netflix). This new reality show is from the producers of MythBusters. It’s like Ghostbusters meets The Big Bang Theory meets reality as three science-loving detectives investigate the strange intersection of weapons, technology, history and pop culture. Cool. Maybe they can investigate alternate universes, and figure out how we can all trade places with our doubles in the good, non-crazy universe?

Neil Young [Rich Fury/The Associated Press]

MUSIC

Big release on Dec. 9: Neil Young (Peace Trail).

Big picture: Canada’s grumpy folk-rock troubadour is already protesting — and this album was recorded long before the U.S. election. Young recently said the president-elect was “like water on the garden of activism.” Who knows what musical flowers might bloom?

As for the Peace Trail, humanitarian concerns and social issues dominate the lyrics on this largely acoustic album, which features 10 stripped-down tracks and was recorded in only four days. The track I’m most curious about is My New Robot — mainly because I’ve always hoped for a reality show starring Young and a robot named Rust called Rust Never Sleeps. The album’s first single Peace Trail includes the lyrics “I think I’ll hit the peace trail / I know that treasure takes its time.” How much time? Have you got four years?

Forecast: Young won’t be playing Trump’s inauguration. Maybe the Republicans can hire Audrey, the plant from Little Shop of Horrors?

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/pop-forecast-for-dec-5-the-office-christmas-party-and-more/feed1The Office Christmas Partypostmedianews1Victoria's Secret Fashion ShowNeil YoungCooks prep for MasterChef Canada: All-Star Family Editionhttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/cooks-prep-for-masterchef-canada-all-star-family-edition
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/cooks-prep-for-masterchef-canada-all-star-family-edition#respondWed, 30 Nov 2016 19:15:00 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761964]]>Is there life after MasterChef Canada? You bet your best cast-iron skillet there is. A new special from the homegrown cooking competition brings back fan favourites — along with their families and some special guests — for a two-hour culinary showdown.

MasterChef Canada: All-Star Family Edition will air Dec. 5 on CTV, and Dec. 12 on Gusto. The last chef standing will win $10,000 for the charity of his or her choice.

In the running are the champs from the first three seasons: Eric Chong (Season 1), David Jorge (Season 2) and Mary Berg (Season 3), as well as the winner from MasterChef Canada: A Holiday Special, Pino DiCerbo. Long-standing judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung and Claudio Aprile will also return.

There are four culinary events to whip through: the Better-Half Skills Race, the Mother and Child Mystery Box, the Bossy Sibling Coaching Challenge and the Family Feast Team Cook.

Viewers will also get to see what the contestants have been up to since hanging up their chef’s whites on the series.

“The MasterChef Canada: All-Star Family Edition special is the perfect primer before Season 4 returns as part of our hit mid-season lineup,” says Mike Cosentino, the senior vice-president of CTV and specialty networks for Bell Media, in a statement.

Season 3 of MasterChef Canada was the No. 1 homegrown program in terms of total viewers for the 2015-16 season, sitting snugly among the Top 20 series in Canada.

The MasterChef franchise is sprawling and comprehensive, with versions in more than 40 countries from Belgium to Bangladesh.

Season 5 of MasterChef Junior will debut this February on CTV and Fox, while Season 4 of MasterChef Canada hits CTV in the winter of 2017. The U.S. version of MasterChef is expected to return in the summer.

MasterChef Canada: All-Star Family Edition airs Dec. 5, CTV.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/cooks-prep-for-masterchef-canada-all-star-family-edition/feed0MasterChef Canada: All-Star Family Editionmhank2012Windstar Cruises propels onward – with or without sailshttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/windstar-cruises-propels-onward-with-or-without-sails
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/windstar-cruises-propels-onward-with-or-without-sails#respondWed, 30 Nov 2016 01:36:37 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761968]]>While there’s been lots of buzz about big cruise ships as of late, it’s not just the gargantuan floating palaces of the sea that offer a wonderful cruise experience. In fact, I’d argue that most of the cruisers I meet (myself included) count small ships among their favourite cruise experiences. And one of my favourite small-ship lines is Windstar Cruises.

Based out of Seattle, Windstar has a fleet of six unique ships. Wind Star, Wind Spirit and Wind Surf are all known as “motor-ship-yachts” thanks to their masts of billowing white sails, but decidedly cruise-like on-board amenities. Of the three, Wind Surf is the biggest, with a capacity for 310 guests. Wind Star and Wind Surf are smaller; these identical sister-ships carry just 148 guests apiece.

Windstar also has three “power yachts” — small, luxury cruise ships that the line recently acquired from Seabourn. Known as Star Breeze, Star Legend and Star Pride, these ships have just 212 guests and no sails — but what they lack in sail power, they make up for in terms of lavish accommodations. Suites are, on average, larger aboard these power yachts, which longtime cruisers might remember better under their former names of Seabourn Legend, Seabourn Pride and Seabourn Spirit.

Cruising with Windstar is a very special experience. I’ve done voyages now through the Baltic and the Mediterranean on the company’s sailing ships, and to the Panama Canal aboard Star Breeze, and I’ve found plenty of things to like about the line — most notably, their superb service, excellent food and interesting itineraries.

There’s one other thing that I love about Windstar Cruises: the sail-away ceremony.

Upon departure from every port, the Vangelis theme to the movie 1492: Conquest of Paradise is played over the ship’s public address speakers. As this dramatic music reaches its crescendo, the sails on the sailing ships are raised up, left to billow in the breeze and, frequently, reflect the amber hues of the setting sun.

On the sail-less power yachts like Star Breeze, a dramatic flag-raising ceremony above the pool deck is featured, along with the familiar soundtrack. I’ve seen many a guest tear up on the last departure as this music is played, and it makes for a truly memorable on-board experience.

Right now, Windstar offers cruises to the Caribbean, Costa Rica, the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Baltics, Tahiti, and special transoceanic crossings that can be a lot of fun. Next year, Windstar is going even further by offering itineraries throughout Asia and Arabia, with power yacht Star Legend offering several itineraries that explore China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo and the Philippines, among others.

Personally, I can’t tell which Windstar ships I like the best. Wind Star and Wind Spirit are gorgeous sailing ships, with nautically designed cabins (all of which are oceanview) and warm, intimate public lounges that will make you feel like you’re on your own personal yacht. They’re also so spacious that you’re likely to wonder where everyone else is.

The power yachts are a bit of a step up. Though they lack sails, they offer more of a “big ship feel,” if you can say that about a ship that barely holds more than 200 guests. These ships have multiple bars and lounges, more open deck space, and a soaring atrium that rises throughout the ship, topped by a skylight on the pool deck. What they lack in sail power, they make up for in amenities: some staterooms and suites aboard these ships feature French balconies, and all staterooms are large enough to include a separate sitting area, walk-in closets, and marble-clad bathrooms.

Windstar also offers a selection of complimentary Private Events in certain ports of call that are exclusive to the line’s guests. It is a program that Windstar hints will continue to expand in the coming years.

“We are excited to continue expanding our curated Private Events program in 2017 with over-the-top cultural and culinary events offered complimentary on every cruise. We also have more overnights and late-night stays giving guests more time in Bora Bora, Bordeaux, Monte Carlo, Portofino, and St. Petersburg to name a few,” said Joe Duckett, Windstar Cruises vice-president of sales and marketing.

Pundits explain this outbreak as a side-effect of the divisive American election, trickling north, the implication being: This kind of thing doesn’t happen here. But Canadians must recognize that the problem starts much closer to home.

From the 1970s to the 1990s, Canada saw a massive growth in domestic white supremacist groups according to Alan Dutton, national director for the Canadian Anti-racism Education and Research Society. Dutton has been studying racist organizations and supporting victims of hate crimes for 30 years.

Canadians must take responsibility for our own values, actions and inactions

The tide turned in the 1990s, he says. Canadians, tired of hate groups operating publicly in their cities, protested to shut down the storefronts and meeting rooms where these groups gathered. Human rights legislation criminalized online hate messages. For almost a decade, hate groups withered and attacks dropped.

But in 2013, hate-speech sections were removed from the Canadian Human Rights Act on the grounds they violated freedom of expression. Although a federal court declared the laws don’t diminish freedom of speech, they were never reinstated. According to Dutton, this opened the door for hate groups to resume spreading their poison.

And as much as we want to blame America, Dutton adds, Canada’s last federal election in 2015 was the real tipping point, with a divisive debate over the niqab. “[These arguments] licensed the expression of hatred in Canada again,” Dutton argues.

As a country and as Canadians we must take responsibility for our own values, actions and inactions, instead of blaming others.

So what can you do? Lots.

Intervene. If someone is hurling racist insults, step in. Ignore the attacker and chat with the victim, creating a safe space. Escort the victim to a place of safety if need be.

Stand up. Organize an anti-hate march or rally. Make a loud, public statement that hate is not welcome in Canada.

Write your member of parliament to take concrete action with legislation. Dutton suggests starting a conversation about reinstating hate speech laws.

Since the vitriolic U.S. election, many outsiders have held up Canada as a model for tolerance. Let’s make sure we remain role models.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of theWE movement,which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day.

]]>http://o.canada.com/life/revoke-the-license-to-hate/feed1angercraigkielburgerChef Matty Matheson talks life, heart attack, eating whale blubberhttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/chef-matty-matheson-talks-life-heart-attack-eating-whale-blubber
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/chef-matty-matheson-talks-life-heart-attack-eating-whale-blubber#respondMon, 28 Nov 2016 17:20:20 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761953]]>Talk to chef Matty Matheson about how he came to host a foodie travelogue show on Viceland, and the word you’re most likely to hear is “amazing”. Less than 15 minutes will net you 10 amazings at least.

That’s because, truthfully, his story is just that. Before he landed Dead Set on Life, now in its second season, he was a perennially bombed bon vivant. A sloshed thrill-seeker, a delirious druggie. The guy who started a riot at his own restaurant, and who once invited New Year’s Eve partiers to punch him in the face.

That is, until he almost died. Full stop. Munched his final tiramisu. All at the age of 29.

“When I had my heart attack almost five years ago, it was pretty scary and life-altering. I changed a lot of things in my life. It’s more about living life and trying to be a better person every day, rather than being the same old guy who would just cook and drink and do drugs,” he says.

Matheson is robust in proportion, personality and pure volume. His tattooed body boasts more ink than an army of octopuses, and his tweets bellow in all caps. He gleefully busts through each episode of his show with the subtlety of Chris Farley on a Saturday Night Live set.

Season 2 of On Dead Set on Life still explores the culinary and cultural traditions of different communities, but now it ventures outside of Canada. Among its stops are Nunavut and Vietnam, with Matheson’s sometimes-sidekick Rang Nguyen in tow.

Chef Matty Matheson stars in Dead Set on Life [Vice/Rogers]

“Nunavut was like being on the moon. It was so beautiful. We took snow machines onto Frobisher Bay and just drove three hours out onto the ice. You’ve never been so isolated. We ate raw seal liver. We ate amazing Arctic char, muskox, caribou, narwhal blubber, a bunch of fun stuff,” he says, teasing the Dec. 8 episode.

“In Vietnam, we got to experience Rang’s world, where he came from and what he went through to get to Canada — it was an amazing story.”

Nguyen is the yin to Matheson’s yang, the peanut butter to his jelly. The two met while working at Le Sélect Bistro in Toronto, a job Matheson nabbed after dropping out of cooking school.

They each left the restaurant for other opportunities, but met up again when Matheson was preparing to film Dead Set on Life. Vice Canada’s head of content, Patrick McGuire, asked if he’d like to bring anyone with him on his trip back home to Fort Erie, Ont., for the inaugural episode.

“I was like, ‘Well, I’m friends with this older, kind of crazy Vietnamese guy.’ I thought it could be a cool thing, but I never thought it’d turn into what it is. Rang is superstar and a big part of our show,” he says. “We’re telling his story in Vietnam, but there are episodes in the season where he’ll just show up.”

Nguyen is the yin to Matheson’s yang, the peanut butter to his jelly.

Matheson, who helms storied Toronto restaurant Parts and Labour, cites his family for instilling his love of restaurants. His grandpa opened the Blue Goose Diner in P.E.I. after leaving the RCMP, and Matheson spent many a summer there. (He has a blue goose tattoo on his chest as a tribute.)

Since his rise to prominence, Matheson has interviewed Stephen Harper, modelled for Holt Renfrew’s 2015 campaign and posed for the hipper-than-thou style blog the Coveteur.

“A lot of people make fun of me, like, ‘Are you even in the restaurants anymore?’ And I’m like, ‘Well no, I’m not physically cooking every day, but all the food at Parts and Labour is my food, it’s my recipes and I’m in there cooking when I can,” he says.

“I’m branching out, and it’s a learning curve. How do I balance my time with a family, restaurants, television? When I shoot a season, I’m gone for eight-and-a-half, nine weeks. That’s a long time to be away from everything. Just trying to find that balance is the hardest thing now.”

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop-culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES

Big releases on Dec. 2: Jackie (limited); Incarnate (limited).

Big picture: With no major wide releases, Hollywood execs must have Star (Wars) in their eyes (Rogue One opens Dec. 16). Jackie opens in limited release this week, and expands in all markets over the next two months. The Oscar contender stars Natalie Portman as Jackie O in the days following JFK’s assassination. Expect lines like: “People like to believe in fairy tales. Don’t let it be forgotten that, in one brief moment, there was a Camelot.”

Meanwhile, Incarnate opens in select theatres (and will soon find its way to streaming services and DVD). It finds science and religion together at last. Aaron Eckhart plays Dr. Seth Ember, which just happens to be the perfect name for a scientist exorcist. Ember doesn’t battle demons with holy water and prayers; he ventures into the minds of possessed souls to battle imps face to fang.

“I evict the demon from the inside,” he helpfully explains. (For an added fee, he’ll probably duel your indigestion, too). Ember’s day job heats up when he is confronted with “an arch demon” inhabiting the body of an innocent 11-year-old boy (David Mazouz from Gotham). After the world’s best priestly exorcists fail (and die trying), the boy’s mother turns to Eckhart’s mind walker.

Forecast: Jackie O will bring Portman Oscar glory. (On a related note, I predict it won’t be long before the Trump White House is nicknamed “Scarealot.”) As for Incarnate, it’s sci-fi meets horror … The Exorcist meets Inception! In fact, I’m hoping it’s secretly a sequel to Inception and Ember teams up with Leonardo DiCaprio’s fellow mental wanderer to oust that pesky devil on Dream Level 4.

Big picture: Incorporated is yet another dystopian drama. It’s Mr. Robot meets George Orwell’s Big Brother plus The Firm. Essentially, corporations own the future. They control the world, make their own laws, and torture and kill with impunity — even their own employees. Case and point, the protagonist’s employer: “Spiga Biotech is a generous mother. It will feed you. Dress you. Protect you.” It’s as if Monsanto, Nike, and Halliburton all merged with Luthor Corp.

Ben Larson (Sean Teale) goes undercover to bring the company down from the inside, and save the woman he loves — a goal within his reach after being promoted to the mysterious “executive floor.” Dennis Haysbert plays the intimidating head of security (he’s like Darth Vader in a suit-and-tie) in a world where one per cent of the population lives in an extravagant Green Zone, and the impoverished masses lives in a Red Zone.

Meanwhile, the CSI and Criminal Minds of the TV world get the satire treatment Down Under. Pacific Heat is an adult cartoon about an “elite” team of Aussie cops — short on intelligence and ethics but long on bravado. Somebody needs to make a Canadian Mountie version.

Forecast: Incorporated will give Canada’s Naomi Klein nightmares. No Logo! How about Everything and Everyone Logo? It’s also a safe bet that Hollywood screenwriters are already quietly changing gear and penning utopian dramas. Post Trumpocalypse, once we’re all living in an actual dystopian world, people are going to want to be entertained by future visions of paradise — not societal collapse. Maybe a drama about a unicorn being elected U.S. president, or global warming causing storm clouds that rain candy and puppies in parachutes?

Big picture: The Stones get back to what they do best: feeling the blues. The venerable rockers are releasing their first studio album in more than a decade (too much time spent writing competing biographies, playing bingo and bingeing on Viagra?), a blues cover album featuring classics like Just Your Fool, Blue and Lonesome and Hoo Doo Blues. The band is at its best (e.g. Exile on Main Street) when embracing its blues influences. Eric Clapton joins them in studio for covers of Everybody Knows About My Good Thing and I Can’t Quit You Baby.

Meanwhile, the Libertines frontman returns with another solo effort, including a track written after the Paris terror attacks called Hell to Pay at the Gates of Heaven, and a tribute to ex-girlfriend Amy Winehouse called Flags of the Old Regime. If Winehouse was still with us, I would have loved to see the Stones’ and her join forces for an album. Back to Blues could have been legendary.

Forecast: I see a red door and I want to paint it blue. Who says you can’t always get what you want? Blue & Lonesome is what every Stones’ fan needs.

Honourable mention: John Legend (Darkness and Light). The R&B legend’s fifth album focuses on social issues and progressive politics — not surprising given his well-documented support of Hillary Clinton’s presidential run. (At this point, he might just want to go ahead and rename the album Darkness.)

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/pop-forecast-for-nov-28-jackie-the-rolling-stones-and-more/feed0Natalie Portman in Jackiepostmedianews1Incorporated - PilotThe Rolling StonesTime-traveling series Timeless a tough task for costume designerhttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/time-traveling-series-timeless-a-tough-task-for-costume-designer
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/time-traveling-series-timeless-a-tough-task-for-costume-designer#respondFri, 25 Nov 2016 17:38:50 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761934]]>The actors on the time-travelling series Timeless have donned their share of headgear — swarthy 10-galloners, demure cloches, silk stovepipes and the like. But you could say the woman who dresses them, costume designer Mari-An Ceo, wears even more hats on set.

She’s an amateur historian, a corset whisperer, actor collaborator and, given her job to transport viewers to a completely different era each week, a bona fide magician. Yet Ceo almost refused to lend her abracadabra to the Global and NBC freshman drama.

“There was no way I was going to say yes to this project — (I thought), it couldn’t be done!” she says with a laugh. A little persuading from show co-creator Eric Kripke, with whom she’d worked on the post-apocalyptic series Revolution, brought her around.

“I thought maybe I’d just make it to the first four episodes and then I’d quit. Or something’s just not going to work and then I’d be done. But somehow we’re doing it. It’s very difficult, though — it’s basically a mini-movie every episode, and we have to set up, make everything and break it back down every couple of weeks, which is kind of crazy.”

Malcolm Barrett, left, Abigail Spencer and Matt Lanter in an episode of Timeless, set in 1836, during the Battle of the Alamo. [Sergei Bachlakov/NBC]

Starring Abigail Spencer, Matt Lanter and Malcolm Barrett, Timeless centres on a trio who zip through time to stop former NSA asset Garcia Flynn (Goran Visnjic), from changing the course of U.S history. So far, they’ve relived events surrounding the Hindenburg disaster, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, the Battle of the Alamo and Watergate.

It’s Ceo’s mission to deliver hundreds of period-appropriate costumes for each episode on time and on budget — a TV budget at that, which is a fraction of what you’d have for a film. A hundred extras in a street scene could cost about $100 each, but putting them in costumes fitting the era could bump that to about $400 a head.

Add to that two outfits per episode for the four main actors, 20 or so day players and Kripke’s rule that the show can never return to a time it’s already been, and the budget is tighter than a pair of skinny jeans after a few too many chicken wings.

“You’re talking about corsets and hoopskirts, suspenders and ascots, and it’s just very elaborate. It’s a tall order to ask a crew to be an expert in every time period, to know what jewelry to pick, how to tie a corset and what kind of corset goes with what outfit,” says Ceo.

Working from the show’s set in Vancouver, Ceo sources outfits from the U.S., England and here in Canada. A wardrobe team in Los Angeles also helps pull together loose threads.

“Usually the further back the time period, you have to get costumes from more places because not much exists … and if we have to make it, we make it quickly and dye it and age it. I’ve never done anything quite this complicated in a short amount of time,” says Ceo, whose resume includes the films The Last Samurai, set in 19th-century Japan, and Alexander, about Alexander the Great.

“We look at museums, paintings and artists’ interpretations if we have an actual historical figure we have to match, like Abraham Lincoln. You really try to go back to what it was exactly. It seems like it would be easy, but today we’re trying to hunt down the braid for (Revolutionary War officer Charles), Cornwallis’s uniform coat. And it doesn’t exist — it was done by hand many years ago.”

Abigail Spencer in the Bonnie and Clyde episode of Timeless, set during the Great Depression. [Sergei Bachlakov/NBC]

Luckily the actors are up for whatever sartorial adventure Ceo and her team are planning.

“They’re always game, every single one of them. Whether it’s breaches or stockings on the guys, or a corset for Abigail. Many costumes aren’t that easy to move around in, yet they embrace it.”

As for her favourite era to work on so far? Ceo is diplomatic.

“They all are my favourites in one way or another. I love doing Bonnie and Clyde right now because it’s Bonnie and Clyde, and it’s cool,” she says, hinting at the Dec. 6 episode.

“We loved doing Las Vegas in the ’60s. We had hundreds of extras for that episode. And by the time we transformed the pool with the floating bar and dressed everybody in their vintage clothes around that, it was like we were in 1960s Las Vegas and I just wanted to order a martini and hang out by the pool.”

Timeless airs Mondays, NBC/Global

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/time-traveling-series-timeless-a-tough-task-for-costume-designer/feed0Timeless - Season 1mhank2012Timeless - Season 1Timeless - Season 1Timeless - Season 1Live from the Columbia River aboard American Empresshttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/live-from-the-columbia-river-aboard-american-empress
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/live-from-the-columbia-river-aboard-american-empress#respondFri, 25 Nov 2016 00:21:34 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761927]]>ASTORIA, Oregon – The rain is unrelenting today, accompanied by high winds and some small whitecaps out on the Columbia River. None of that matters here onboard the American Queen Steamboat Company’s American Empress, which makes her home on the Columbia River, operating weeklong river cruises roundtrip from Portland, Oregon (Vancouver, Washington), or one-way between Portland and Clarkston, Washington.

I’m currently sailing aboard the last cruise of the year for the 223-guest American Empress: a special wine-themed river cruise through the gorgeous Columbia River valley that borders the states of Washington and Oregon. It’s a spectacularly beautiful region of the Pacific Northwest, and one that most people don’t realize can be explored by river cruise ship.

And what a nice river cruise ship this is. Built in 2003, the American Empress originally sailed as Empress of the North for the now-defunct Majestic America Line before the American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) bought her back in 2013 and put her through a year-long sprucing-up.

She’s designed to replicate the glory days of steamboat travel in the Pacific Northwest, and to that end, she boasts a massive, bright-red paddlewheel mounted to her stern. While the ship’s main propulsion is provided by diesel-electric pods known as Z-Drives, the paddlewheel is powered and does add three to four knots to the overall speed of American Empress.

On our wine-themed journey, we’ve enjoyed overnight stays in The Dalles, Oregon; Stevenson, Washington; and now, Astoria, Oregon. In each and every port, AQSC offers a complimentary Hop-on-Hop-off bus service, operated by three luxury American Empress-branded coaches. With three to five stops apiece, these ‘do-it-yourself’ tours also include admission to several local attractions, including the Bonneville Dam, the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, and the wonderful Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum.

AQSC also offers complimentary and additional-cost excursions to enrich your voyage, and I’ve found both to be of extremely high quality so far. From tours to spectacular Multnomah Falls to visits to local food trucks in Portland and a walking tour ‘pub crawl’ of Astoria’s craft breweries, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy.

The line puts great emphasis on the small-town local experience, and to that end recommends that guests patronize the small ‘mom-n-pop’ shops that you’ll find in the towns the American Empress visits along the way. I like that. It’s the opposite of what big, mainstream ships try to foist upon guests: a list of ‘approved shops’ that frequently offer little authentic experience to the visitor.

The American Empress is also a real winner, with a friendly American crew that go out of their way to ensure everyone is having a good time. The food has also been quite good, with Pacific Northwest influences on every menu and regional wines and craft beers served up complimentary with dinner. I’ve never really ordered Fried Chicken on any cruise before, the craft beer-battered fried chicken with the honey-infused biscuits I had last evening for dinner was sinfully good.

Onboard, things function more like an oceangoing cruise than a river cruise. Even in port, a healthy amount of activities are offered during the morning and afternoon. A dedicated ‘Riverlorian’ is present on each sailing, to deliver scenic commentary, and to impart the rich history of this region to guests through entertaining and engaging lectures.

Live music is offered each evening in the Paddlewheel Lounge, which as you might expect, is situated within sight of the ship’s massive spinning sternwheel. In the main Show Lounge, nightly performances are offered, complemented by a four-member orchestra playing everything from Big Band to rock and roll.

Founded in 2011, you might know the American Queen Steamboat Company better for its voyages along the Mississippi River aboard the venerable American Queen. The line continues to offer a full season of Mississippi river cruises in 2017, with the first departure sailing roundtrip New Orleans on February 19, 2017 and concluding with the December 25, 2017 Christmas and New Year’s voyage.

The American Queen will also be joined by the American Duchess on the Mississippi next year. She’s AQSC’s newest vessel, built from the ground-up to be the most luxurious sternwheeler afloat with all-suite accommodations. With just 166 guests per voyage, expect this brand-new beauty to sell out fast. Bookings are already open for her maiden season, which begins on July 2, 2017.

As for the American Empress, she returns to the waters on March 5, 2017, operating the first of four wine-themed river cruises that operate roundtrip from Portland (Vancouver, WA). Additional wine-themed departure dates are March 12 and November 12 and November 19, 2017.

For the bulk of the year, American Empress sails weeklong voyages between Portland (Vancouver, WA) and Clarkston. But you really can’t go wrong with any itinerary on this ship: the inclusions, coupled with the rich history of the Pacific Northwest and the abundance of good food, great wine, and craft beers make this one of the best “close-to-home” cruises you can take.

Happy cruising.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/live-from-the-columbia-river-aboard-american-empress/feed0ftdc_americanempress_stevenson-0509_webaaronpsaundersStill the same old storyhttp://o.canada.com/news/still-the-same-old-story
http://o.canada.com/news/still-the-same-old-story#respondTue, 22 Nov 2016 12:00:17 +0000http://o.canada.com?p=761882&preview_id=761882]]>Recently, we visited our Aunt Pat at her nursing home to celebrate her 80th birthday. Marc’s five-year-old Lily-Rose had seen the tiny rooms and lonely seniors there before, and this time insisted we bring a box of Teddy bears. Residents were thrilled—it was just what the doctor ordered.

Too often, the elderly live forgotten in depressing conditions. The mind of a five-year-old might be exactly what elder care needs. What about a facility designed by Disney? It’s just one of the creative solutions popping up around the world, proving that engaging, personalized environments improve quality of life, health and longevity for seniors.

Living conditions are especially important for more than half a million elderly Canadians with dementia, a term for any chronic disorder, such as Alzheimer’s, that impairs memory, reasoning and cognitive function. As dementia takes its toll, patients become far more sensitive to their environment. Unfamiliar settings increase anxiety and stress, leading to agitation and even violent outbursts which are treated with drugs and physical restraint.

As many as half of those seniors with Alzheimer’s die within a year of being admitted to a nursing home. Studies have found that the sudden disruption in routine, along with a lack of activity and socialization, leads to depression, and lessens the will to live.

To combat this, various health-care models around the world are building facilities that preserve routine, daily activities and social integration. Hogewey, on the outskirts of Amsterdam, is a village whose 152 residents are all dementia patients. Founded in 2009 the ‘town’ has a cinema, restaurant, hair salon and stores. Under the discreetly watchful eye of staff, residents go about their business, dining, shopping and socializing. Hogewey staff report their residents require fewer medications and live longer than those in standard nursing homes.

Recreating familiar environments for the elderly presents a challenge in Canada’s multicultural cities

Hogewey is one of the inspirations behind Aegis Living—a privately owned assisted living company in Seattle. Founder Dwayne Clark spent 30 years working in nursing homes and studying seniors’ care in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

Clark hired designers from Disney Imagineering to create an indoor neighbourhood with classical Queen Anne architecture. A boardwalk featuring stores, a juice bar and a theatre, simulates the streets where his Seattle residents grew up.

Hogeway was partly funded by the Dutch government, while Aegis Living is privately owned. Canada’s senior-care model is a mix of public and private. But we can learn from the creativity these models demonstrate, with adaptations to make them affordable and accessible for all.

Recreating familiar environments presents a challenge in Canada’s multicultural society. Urban centres like Vancouver and Toronto offer culturally sensitive care facilities for Chinese and South Asian seniors. Speaking their first language and eating the foods they grew up with creates a safe space and prevents feelings of isolation. These facilities are so in-demand (and so few and far between), that waiting lists can be up to six years long.

Teddy bears may not be practical, and the minds behind Mickey Mouse may not be affordable for our health care system. But Canada needs more imagination when it comes to caring for our beloved aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of theWE movement,which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop-culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES

Big releases on Nov. 25: Allied; Bad Santa 2.

Big picture: Brad Pitt and French actress Marion Cotillard play an intelligence officer and resistance fighter whose fates are intertwined during the Second World War. For the record, the last time Pitt played a spy sleeping with the enemy (Mr. & Mrs. Smith) he ended up divorced and later re-married his co-star. (Sure, Brarion isn’t catchy. But you could get used to it, right?). As for the plot? Bullets fly. Sparks fly. Buttons on blouses fly off. Lines are crossed. Star-crossed lovers are double crossed. And so on. Is she a double agent? Does he care? It’s Sleeping with the Enemy meets James Bond meets The Departed, and all is fair in love and war.

Forecast: Hollywood will finally see the crossover potential and cast Thornton in The Santa Clause 4.

Honourable mention: Moana. This animated adventure finds The Rock voicing an affable demi-god named Maui, a deity built like a wrestler with the maturity of a frat boy. Maui must help a young girl named Moana on an epic sea journey to find a new island home (I’m guessing Hawaii) for her people. You can thank Walt Disney for this Christmas gift.

Alexis Bledel, left, and Lauren Graham and in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. [Netflix]

TV

Big events: Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (Nov. 25, Netflix); 3% (Nov. 25, Netflix).

Big picture: These Girls are more likable than the ones on HBO. Three generations of Gilmore women return to bemoan the state of their idyllic small-town lives. This marks a new beginning for the WB/CW (2000-07) series, set in the fictional Stars Hollow, Conn. This “new season” is unveiled as four 90-minute movies (with additional “seasons” on the horizon). Nine years after the series’ finale, Rory, the youngest Gilmore, is leading a rootless — her grandmother calls it “vagabond” — life after her budding journalism career imploded. (Note: Kids of America: there is no better time to be a vagabond! Go live abroad for four years! Stat!). As for mom Lorelai, she is coming to grips with a relationship that may have passed its prime.

Meanwhile, Netflix’s first Brazilian original series is 3%, a sci-fi thriller about deep class divisions. In a near dystopian future, the elite live in a heavily fortified island utopia, while the rest of us suckers live on a Mad Maxian mainland. Select landlubbers are recruited to join the 3% based on a series of mental, physical and psychological tests — everything from assembling building blocks to bludgeoning one another to death. It’s The Hunger Games meets international cinema meets Saw meets The Maze Runner … meets your nearest escape room.

Forecast: Am I the only one who would have preferred to see Gilmore Girls: 3%, in which our plucky heroines battles for survival in the post-apocalyptic future? I bet all those skills Rory picked up as a vagabond would come in real handy.

Honourable mention: The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration (Nov. 24, ABC). This thinly veiled advertisement for Walt Disney Resorts features musical performances by the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks. Presumably, there will also be special appearances by various characters destined to soon be incarcerated or deported in Trump’s America — from Aladdin and Jasmine, to Pocahontas and Mulan, to Beast and Goofy. (What can I say? Enjoy them while you can, kids.)

The Weeknd releases the new album Starboy. [Handout]

MUSIC

Big release on Nov. 25: The Weeknd (Starboy).

Big picture: Toronto’s Abel Tesfaye isn’t just working for the weekend. He must be in the studio eight days a week. His last album (the breakout Beauty Behind the Madness) was released little more than a year ago. Tesfaye has cited Michael Jackson and Prince among his inspirations. This time around, Daft Punk joins him in studio on two tracks — a rare collaboration for the secretive electronic duo. Combine their pop-music savvy with The Weeknd’s club mystique. By now, his ubiquitous hit Can’t Feel My Face has probably hit No. 1 in multiple different galaxies. Whether you have tentacles or arms, The Weeknd’s beats are irresistible.

Forecast: Sadly, we lost a Starman this year. But at least this Canadian Starboy’s future is bright. The 26-year-old R&B sensation will take his career to new heights, exuding confidence under the ever-widening spotlight.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/pop-forecast-for-nov-21-allied-gilmore-girls-and-more/feed0Film Alliedpostmedianews1Gilmore Girls: A Year in the LifeThe WeekndDisney Cruise Line lights up the Holidayshttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/disney-cruise-line-lights-up-the-holidays
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/disney-cruise-line-lights-up-the-holidays#respondSat, 19 Nov 2016 15:08:34 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761865]]>A cruise with Mickey Mouse and the gang may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Holidays, but Disney Cruise Line is pulling out all the stops on its Christmas and New Year’s cruises this winter.

As you might expect, Disney is an amazing choice for families. The line’s kids programs are second to none, and even adults can’t help but fall under the Disney spell. I personally know couples that don’t have kids — and don’t want kids — that sail with the line because their adult offerings and amenities are just so darn good. Plus, like Disney’s land-based theme parks, it’s practically impossible to resist a smile when Donald Duck or Captain Mickey wanders your way.

Every cruise line does Christmas, but Disney sprinkles just a little more of its magic dust over everything aboard the four classically styled ships in its fleet. If you’ve never seen a Disney ship before, it’s a pleasantly elegant affair, with swooping lines, a black hull, and a vibrant yellow “cheat line” meant to emulate the classic ocean liners of days gone by.

Things start on the first night of the cruise, with Mickey’s Tree-Lighting Magic — a tree “lighting” ceremony held in the ship’s soaring, three-storey atrium. Disney’s characters will lead holiday carols and will proceed to light the tree, which stands the full height of the ship’s atrium.

Also held in the atrium lobby is Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball, where guests will gather to welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus with an event that features Broadway-style entertainment and holiday tunes that will surely turn into a singalong. A flurry of magic snowflakes rains down on the atrium as this happens, which adds that touch of Christmas — even in the Caribbean.

Other holiday amenities include roving Dickens-era carollers who stroll throughout the ship spreading holiday cheer. Kids can also take part in gingerbread house making classes, make holiday-themed crafts like decorating stockings and making holiday animation cells, and of course everyone is invited out to meet Santa.

Disney also offers an on-deck Deck the Deck Holiday Party. This tropical celebration features limbo contests under gigantic candy canes, dances designed for the whole family, and a conga line around the pool. Or, mom and dad can head to one of the many adults-only lounges for some holiday libations.

I personally think the coolest aspect of these cruises — from the kid that lives within me — are the Christmas morning celebrations. With Santa Claus behind the tree, kids and families are invited to join in a special surprise, along with musical performances. A traditional Christmas dinner will be served that night in the ship’s main dining room, and Christmas and Hanukkah services will be held on their respective days.

There’s still some spots free on Disney’s ships this winter, even if you’re not sailing on an actual Christmas sailing. And, of course, there’s no time like the present to plan for 2017.

For everyone reading this that thinks what I’ve just described is amazing, there’s probably another that’s cringed at every part of this. And that’s OK, too — a Disney cruise isn’t for everyone. You have to have a healthy love for the characters that roam the ship, and you have to be able to buy into the entire idea of really being a kid again.

But I will say this: if you’ve never been on a Disney cruise and you have kids (big or small), this is really one of cruising’s most rewarding experiences for families of all ages. Disney may target families, but the line’s innovations, amenities, cuisine and service are all top notch.

There was a time when I was skeptical, too. And then I went on-board, and someone called out my name over a loudspeaker, as if by magic, and welcomed me. And I have to tell you, when you see Captain Mickey wave at you while you’re walking along the promenade deck, well, you become a big kid again. And you wave back.

Happy cruising.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/disney-cruise-line-lights-up-the-holidays/feed0Magical Winter Holidays with Disney Cruise LineaaronpsaundersViral sensations launch CBC web series Coming Inhttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/viral-sensations-launch-cbc-web-series-coming-in
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/viral-sensations-launch-cbc-web-series-coming-in#respondFri, 18 Nov 2016 17:36:17 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761887]]>If Kyle Humphrey had a fictional kindred spirit, chances are it would be Roseanne Conner — that working-class and often crass mom from the hit sitcom Roseanne. To wit, the Canadian co-creator of the new web series Coming In once dedicated an entire blog to her fashion sense.

“Roseanne was so real and unapologetically herself and captivating, and it wasn’t a family that you really saw on TV,” he says.

His latest project shares that same sense of originality and authenticity, though format-wise it’s a different beast. Coming In, about a gay man who wakes up one day to discover he’s straight, debuts Monday as 11 short clips on CBC Comedy’s website (cbc.ca/comedy).

Expectations are high. Humphrey and Coming In co-creator Graydon Sheppard — who’ve been dating for years — are also the guys behind Shit Girls Say, a Twitter parody account set up in 2011 that now boasts 1.88 million followers.

There’s also a companion book and a YouTube series featuring montages of Humphrey in drag spouting lines like “Could you do me a huge favour?”, “I had such a good sleep” and “Twinsies!” Episode 1, co-starring Juliette Lewis, has racked up more than 21 million views.

Coming In, however, has a full-blown narrative arc. It starts with Mitchell (Dylan Archambault), walking into a support group for gay men who are trying to be straight, and telling them of his plight. Subsequent episodes show him facing the challenges of coming out as a straight man.

Dylan Archambault stars in Coming In. [CBC]

“Shit Girls Say was the first thing that we had ever worked on together, so now five years later we’re in a much better position to work together. One of the biggest differences with Coming In is we just felt more competent as a team,” says Sheppard, who also directed the episodes.

“We started thinking about Coming In a couple years ago, just walking around Toronto one day, and the idea came to us. We thought it would just be a really funny way to tell the coming out story in a new way and make it more relatable to a wider audience.”

The final product is warm, well-developed and witty. There’s some swearing and skin — a bare bum, most notably — and the sensibility echoes Australian series Please Like Me, about a man who realizes he’s gay after being dumped by his girlfriend. That show aired on CBC-TV in Canada last year.

In fact, Coming In is — er — coming in at a time when LGBTQ characters are finding their footing on both TV and computer screens.

On conventional TV, shows like Empire (Fox), Modern Family (ABC), and Degrassi: Next Class (Family Channel), have gay lead characters, while streaming services boast acclaimed fare such as Orange is the New Black and Sense8 (both Netflix), as well as Transparent (Amazon Prime/Shomi).

What’s more, a recent report by GLAAD, the LGBTQ media advocacy organization, said the 2016-17 TV season has the highest percentage of LGBTQ main characters yet: 4.8 per cent in prime-time scripted broadcast TV, a record in the 21 years it has been tracking such numbers.

“There seems to be representations of younger people, and Glee had a lot of diverse and groundbreaking characters on that show. It’s going toward the positive, but I think not since Will & Grace has there been a totally gay show for the mainstream,” says Sheppard.

Kyle Humphrey, left, and Graydon Sheppard are the creators of web series Coming In [CBC]

“The LGBT community is starting to understand that there’s division within the community as well. With our show, we’re trying to point out things that are happening in the queer community as well as the straight community.”

Coming In also has another advantage: brevity in a time when attention spans trade in 140 characters or fewer. Each episode is about three to six minutes, dialogue is pithy and plot points are straightforward.

“You can really get to the story quickly and move along quickly, but the disadvantage is that we don’t get to really explore all these ideas that we have — we just kind of touch on all these things,” says Humphrey.

Adds Sheppard: “We definitely want to see another season; we want to keep going with it. This is where (Mitchell’s), journey begins, really. He is now facing questions about masculinity and dating and finding a place in the straight world.”

For Humphrey, Coming In could even eventually morph into something along the lines of his beloved Roseanne.

“We’ve always seen it as a half-hour comedy,” he says, “and we’re hoping that this proves it as a concept so that we can make it into a more traditional fleshed-out show.”

Coming In starts streaming on CBC Comedy, Nov. 21

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/viral-sensations-launch-cbc-web-series-coming-in/feed0Coming Inmhank2012Coming InKyle Humphrey, Graydon SheppardPrincess has yen for Japanhttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/princess-has-yen-for-japan
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/princess-has-yen-for-japan#respondThu, 17 Nov 2016 13:00:56 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761860]]>When people talk about taking a cruise around Asia, they typically mean something that starts in some of the big-name Asian ports of call, like Hong Kong or Singapore. But Princess Cruises has, for several years now, been quietly offering some pretty special sailings that focus entirely on Japan.

Back in 2014, Princess put the 2,670-guest Diamond Princess through $30 million dollars’ worth of upgrades in order to sail the line’s itineraries in Japan. The result was an on-board experience that’s refreshingly immersed in Japanese culture, from the massive 8,800-square-foot bathing experience designed to replicate a traditional Onsen, to the new on-board sushi-themed dining venue serving up a variety of sushi, sashimi, seafood cocktails and, for dessert, matcha ice cream with red bean paste — not to mention a variety of regional sakes (Japanese rice wines).

Since then, Diamond Princess has operated exclusively in Japan, although many readers might remember her from her summers in Alaska where she operated cruises from Vancouver and Whittier.

Sailing between April and November of 2017, Princess is offering a whole host of Japanese-themed itineraries, most of which sail round-trip from Yokohama, the port city for Tokyo. These sailings are helped along by the fact that getting to Tokyo a one-stop deal for many Canadians, with nonstop flights available from Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.

While Princess does offer a few five-night taster cruises, you’ll probably want to take one of the longer voyages aboard Diamond Princess to really experience all that Japan has to offer.

My favourite one is the eight-day “Circle Hokkaido” trip. Sailing from Yokohama, Diamond Princess stops in Kushiro, Otaru, Hakodate, and even finds time to swing over into Eastern Russia, where a port call is made on remote Korsakov, which has passed in and out of Japanese control throughout history. This particular voyage is offered on four dates in 2017: Aug. 20; Sept. 5 and 18; and Oct. 1.

If you have some time to spare, it’s tough to beat the 16-day “Hokkaido and Ryukyu Islands” voyage. This one is only offered on one date, July 5, 2017, so chances are good that it will fill up fast (the one-off cruises always do). This voyage, however, offers a great look at Japan and even takes the time to swing down into Taiwan, with a call on Keelung — the port city of Taipei — on July 10. Other ports on this journey include Okinawa, Ishigaki, Kushiro, Otaru, Hakodate, and the stop in Korsakov, Russia.

What I like about these cruises is that they aren’t your typical voyage through Asia. In fact, few other cruise lines focus an entire season on Japan, and fewer still do it with a ship that’s got the comfort and amenities of the Diamond Princess; a ship that’s barely over a decade old and has plenty of open deck space to enjoy scenic cruising throughout Japan’s famous Shiretoko Peninsula, which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. With snow-capped mountains, cascading waterfalls and towering cliff faces, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in Norway’s Geirangerfjord or Alaska’s Tracy Arm. It also includes one of the largest populations of brown bears in the world.

So majestic is this area on the island of Hokkaido that Princess includes it on a number of Diamond Princess itineraries in Japan.

For the coming year, the number of itineraries in Japan is poised to be the line’s biggest, with a total of 39 different voyages on sale that range from five to 17 nights in duration. Princess also offers the ability to combine these voyages with overland journeys that explore both Kyoto and Tokyo. These add-on packages explore some of the most popular sights in each city, and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Mt. Fuji, Togendai and Lake Ashi.

“We’ve been recognized as the top cruise line in Asia offering the best itineraries and our 2017 Japan voyages more than live up to this accolade, offering our longest season yet,” said Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz. “We visit the top-rated ports, provide local cultural entertainment and culinary experiences on board and offer bi-lingual service to make it easy and memorable for our guests to explore all that Japan offers.”

Happy cruising.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/princess-has-yen-for-japan/feed0diamondprincess_japanesebath_lraaronpsaunders4 questions about Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, answeredhttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/movies/4-questions-about-fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-answered
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/movies/4-questions-about-fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-answered#commentsWed, 16 Nov 2016 19:09:00 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761855]]>What kind of beasts are we talking about, and why are they so fantastic?

Yup. It was published in 2001 and positioned as an actual textbook from Harry Potter’s library. The author is listed as Newt Scamander, a famed magizoologist, but of course J.K. Rowling is the real mastermind. Incidentally, the new version of Fantastic Beasts that’s being published is a word-for-word copy of the film’s screenplay, which Rowling wrote.

Will we see a young Dumbledore?

You bet your wonderful wizarding wand you will — eventually. The Hogwarts headmaster pops up in the second Fantastic Beasts film, and dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald also appears in the series. Fantastic Beasts is kind of a Harry Potter prequel set 90 years ago in New York City. Some characters are familiar, but the film isn’t directly centred on Harry, Hermione and Ron — it’s all about Newt, Jacob Kowalski and sisters Porpentina and Queenie Goldstein.

We’re still confused — Ms. Rowling, you have some ’splaining to do.

Luckily, Ms. Rowling has already done plenty of ’splaining. The author has published dozens of complementary stories and essays on her Pottermore website, including a collection on how the wizarding world works, a guide to the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) and a partial history of magic in North America.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/movies/4-questions-about-fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-answered/feed1Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themmhank2012Sarah Brightman set to christen Seabourn Encorehttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/sarah-brightman-set-to-christen-seabourn-encore
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/sarah-brightman-set-to-christen-seabourn-encore#respondTue, 15 Nov 2016 18:27:20 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761851]]>Luxury line Seabourn’s brand-new Seabourn Encore is inching steadily closer to her maiden voyage. The 600-guest ship, which departed on her sea trials on November 4, will be christened in a lavish ceremony in the port of Singapore on January 7, 2017, followed by a 10-day gala maiden voyage around Indonesia.

Now, Seabourn has announced that acclaimed singer Sarah Brightman will serve as Seabourn Encore’s Godmother.

“Sarah Brightman embodies the style and sophistication, the talent and innovation, the playfulness and inviting warmth that create the unique atmosphere guests enjoy onboard every Seabourn vessel,” said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn. “We’re so grateful to have her officially name Seabourn Encore.”

Brightman launched her career with the British dance troupe Hot Gossip in the late 1970s. In 1981, she made her West End musical theatre debut in Cats, and went on to star in several West End and Broadway musicals, including originating the role of Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera. Brightman furthered her musical career as a classical crossover artist, a genre she is often credited with creating and has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Her 1996 duet with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli on “Time to Say Goodbye” became an international sensation and one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Brightman seems like the ideal choice for Godmother of Seabourn Encore, which is Seabourn’s first newbuild since the debut of Seabourn Quest in 2011. Designed by Adam D. Tihany, the 40,350-GRT Seabourn Encore will be similar to her fleetmates, but will feature one additional deck along with newly-expanded and reconfigured public spaces. The all-suite, all-veranda ship will make her debut in Southeast Asia before heading across the Middle East for a summer season in the Mediterranean.

It’s an exciting time for Seabourn, which now features one of the newest fleets of any luxury cruise line.

Seabourn Encore will officially be delivered on November 30 of this year, and she will sail a series of preview cruises throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East before her official christening ceremonies in Singapore in January. While her maiden voyage from Singapore is long sold out, there are still some spaces available on Seabourn Encore’s first sailings in the Med and Southeast Asia.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/sarah-brightman-set-to-christen-seabourn-encore/feed0seabournencoreaaronpsaundersUniversities dismantle ivory towershttp://o.canada.com/news/universities-dismantle-ivory-towers
http://o.canada.com/news/universities-dismantle-ivory-towers#respondTue, 15 Nov 2016 12:00:18 +0000http://o.canada.com?p=761807&preview_id=761807]]>It’s the most macabre field trip we’ve heard of. In the fall of 2015, 22 participants in a McMaster University program hiked to a cemetery in Hamilton, Ont., to view the graves of city residents who died in the 1918 influenza pandemic.

The unusual excursion was part of a free course on the history of plagues in Hamilton, offered through McMaster’s Discovery Program. It’s an initiative that gives educational opportunities to local residents who, for social or economic reasons, haven’t been able to get a post-secondary education. Discovery is one part of McMaster’s strategy for using the university’s resources to benefit the city.

Across Canada, forward-thinking universities and colleges are finding innovative ways to give back to the communities they call home. In so doing, these institutions are also improving the quality of education for their students and strengthening their own relevance in a changing world.

The Discovery Program has run free 12-week courses since 2011. McMaster wants the program to foster a passion for learning, and possibly even start participants on the path to higher learning, explains McMaster president Patrick Deane. This fall’s course offering is studying diversity, and how cultural differences make communities like Hamilton stronger and more resilient.

The university offers free child care and transit passes to make classes more accessible. Deane adds there’s always a line-up to enroll, and professors fight for the privilege of teaching in the program.

In another community-oriented initiative, McMaster opened a medical centre in downtown Hamilton last year. Med students are getting a hands-on education providing health services to some 16,000 city residents who don’t have a family doctor.

Ryerson University in Toronto is cultivating community green thumbs. Torontonians can participate in Ryerson Urban Farm, volunteering, learning gardening skills and getting nutritious fresh food from the eight on-campus gardens.

Further west, the University of Winnipeg’s offers a “model high school” for disadvantaged local youth—particularly young aboriginal people—who show strong academic potential. Tailored secondary school courses prepare them for university, and they’re accepted into the University of Winnipeg’s scholarship programs.

Across Canada, forward-thinking universities and colleges are finding innovative ways to give back to the communities they call home

And the University of Victoria puts its brain power at the disposal of the community. Its researchers help local organizations, and also work with businesses to find commercial uses for on-campus discoveries. Through the UVic Speakers Bureau, schools and community groups can host experts who give free talks on a wide range of topics. Nearby, the City of Vancouver and six post-secondary institutions, including Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia are involved in a similar initiative. Through a partnership called CityStudio Vancouver, city staff, University students and community members co-create and develop solutions to local challenges.

The benefits of these kinds of collaborations accrue back to the institutions.

Increasingly, students can access university-level teaching almost anywhere. With ever more online courses and Iinternet-based private schools, it’s possible for a student to sit at home and listen to a lecture given by a professor halfway around the world. Even some academics are starting to ponder whether our society still needs brick-and-mortar institutions anymore.

By supporting their communities in productive ways,and solving local challenges like access to health care, colleges and universities reinforce their relevance in the modern world. Initiatives like the aforementioned, also create added educational value that students could never get from a Skype lecture. They provide young people hands-on experience and, just as important, meaningfulness in their education.

Studies like the annual Deloitte Millennial Survey demonstrate that upcoming generations want to know how their consumer purchases and jobs make a difference in the world. We believe the same applies to their education. If students can use their learning to support the broader community, it will give them the meaningfulness they crave.

The successful schools of the future will be active and engaged supporters of their communities.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of theWE movement,which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day.

]]>http://o.canada.com/news/universities-dismantle-ivory-towers/feed0craigkielburgerWhich Bachelorette Canada wine is your perfect partner?http://o.canada.com/news/which-bachelorette-canada-wine-is-your-perfect-partner
http://o.canada.com/news/which-bachelorette-canada-wine-is-your-perfect-partner#respondMon, 14 Nov 2016 18:59:51 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761844]]>And then there were two. Jasmine Lorimer has spent a whole season on The Bachelorette Canada winnowing down a field of 20 men desperate for her affections to just two. Our thoughts go out to her in this trying time.

The homegrown reality show is all set up for its two-part finale — one episode this week, one episode next week. For this they will need (as always) a lot of wine — more specifically, Two Oceans wine, an official sponsor and unofficial ambassador for romance on the show.

And just as Lorimer must now choose between aviation engineer Mikhel Sickand and firefighter Kevin Wendt, we plebeians are often faced with what’s arguably an equally tough decision on the average night out: red wine or white?

If Two Oceans’ shiraz and pinot grigio were men, these are the types of men they would be. Choose wisely.

Shiraz

In a nutshell: Intense

Backstory: He’s the kind of guy who reads William Faulkner, who dines by candlelight, whose eyes are piercing, who can suggest five types of sin with the arch of an eyebrow.

First kiss: The guy starts out soft and succulent, but then it’s all sour-sweet with spicy undertones. He’ll keep you on your toes.

A bottle of Two Oceans wine is spotlighted in a game of spin the bottle on The Bachelorette Canada. [Two Oceans/Corus]

Pinot Grigio

In a nutshell: Fun

Backstory: This dude is always down for a good party. He’s got magazines like Details and GQ on his coffee table, can work his social media game like it’s Monopoly and strike up a conversation with just about anyone.

Favourite colour: Mr. Grigio goes for white. As in the colour of good cowboys and the dress code for very exclusive parties in the Hamptons.

Food soulmates: Salads and cold meats. Nothing too heavy.

First kiss: He stirs warm summer memories in all their sun-drenched glory. But this guy has some tricks up his sleeve — like throwing a lychee in your basic fruit salad.

The coveted title, rather, is given to someone whose smarts fall into the musical, physical, social, logical, visual and linguistic categories. Debuting Sunday on CBC, Season 3 of Canada’s Smartest Person, hosted by funnywoman Jessi Cruickshank, will see several new contestants fight for one of seven spots in the show’s finale. Viewers can play along at home on the show’s app, or online.

We helped prepare the first batch of hopefuls for battle with some warm-up questions:

Canada’s Smartest Person contestant Rup Magon. [CBC]

Rup Magon, 41

Musician, Montreal

Which of the six categories does your intelligence fall into?

Being a recording artist, I’d normally be inclined to say musical. However, I think my intelligence would come from a blend of musical, social, and visual.

What made you want to do this?

My mother was a teacher and now is a PhD in Education. We’ve often had heated discussions regarding the education system. I’ve always asked questions like: Who created it? Why was it created? Who chose the subjects? Does it actually limit our intelligence? So when I got to know more about the show, I was pleasantly surprised to see a mainstream initiative about the same thoughts I had.

Why will you win?

My parents took the time out of their schedules to make me try all kinds of sports, instruments and subjects, which gives my intelligence range. Above all, though, I travelled with them. True education comes with travelling. I wish to do the same with my girls.

Canada’s Smartest Person contestant Jonathan Gagnon. [CBC]

Jonathan Gagnon, 31

Engineer, Vancouver

Which of the six categories does your intelligence fall into?

Social smarts. I’ve always been a people person.

What made you want to do this?

I coach a baseball team and our first baseman, Jeff Sudnicki, proposed that I should apply. I have lots of confidence when it comes to intelligence because I have always been one of the smarter people in the room, but two years ago I suffered a brain injury that left me cognitively handicapped. Over the last few years, I’ve been working hard to get back to my old self and qualifying for this competition has been a sign of great progress.

Why will you win?

I actually don’t think that I will win (odds are, right?). But if I do, I can credit growing up in a family that was not able to afford the things that the kids around me had. It gave me a chip on my shoulder and made me hungry for success.

Canada’s Smartest Person contestant Steve Norn. [CBC]

Steve Norn, 40

Insurance broker, Yellowknife

Which of the six categories does your intelligence fall into?

My strongest area would be in logical intelligence. However, I can do the remaining five areas of intelligence quite well.

What made you want to do this?

My family encouraged me to do this. I want to show my girls that it’s OK to put themselves out there and seize opportunities and not be afraid of failure.

Why will you win?

I will win because I can do a variety of things quite well. I am not a polymath by any means, but I feel I am a bit better than a “jack-of-trades” when it comes to what CSP is looking for.

Canada’s Smartest Person contestant Vincent Law. []

Vincent Law, 33

Cancer researcher & fashion blogger, Calgary

Which of the six categories does your intelligence fall into?

I would have to say logical, linguistic, visual and social are my strongest intelligence, because often I use logic and linguistic for my scientific research and visual for my fashion and creative line of work. Social intelligence is also my strength.

What made you want to do this?

A few years ago, I had a serious brain infection that nearly killed me. When I recovered from that ordeal, I made a bucket list of things that I wish I could do in my lifetime — One of them was to be on a TV competition show. I am grateful that CBC gave me this opportunity and that they believe that I may be one of the smartest people in Canada.

Why will you win?

We all have different strengths and weaknesses. I will win is because my strengths will be highlighted and I will take advantage of that and shine.

Canada’s Smartest Person contestant Susan Forgues. [CBC]

Susan Forgues, 54

Retired military helicopter pilot, Orleans, Ont.

Which of the six categories does your intelligence fall into?

My top three are visual, linguistic and logical. My background as a helicopter pilot gives me an advantage in the visual and logical challenges and my university degree in anthropology and my masters in cognitive studies speak to my strengths in linguistics.

What made you want to do this?

I’m always interested in new experiences and I think both my educational and professional background make me uniquely suited to compete to be Canada’s Smartest Person. I also have two granddaughters and I want them to know that it’s great for girls to be smart!

Why will you win?

I believe that those who are smart are innovative, curious, critical thinkers. I have strengths in all three of these areas and will challenge my fellow CSP participants in all areas of intelligence.

Canada’s Smartest Person contestant Stephanie Harvey. [CBC]

Stephanie Harvey, 30

Pro gamer, Quebec City

Which of the six categories does your intelligence fall into?

I would say that the only category I am not decent at is linguistic. Although I am bilingual, I consider myself pretty average in both languages. Most likely logical and physical will be my strongest.

What made you want to do this?

I like to jump on new projects and test the water, left and right. I want a chance at proving that I am a world-class gamer, but also that I have some talent in a bunch of other fields.

Why will you win?

I’ll win because I am a well-rounded human being, I have always been interested in many fields and can perform well under pressure.

It is the latter that is particularly noteworthy. Silver Shadow spent three full days docked just outside of Yangon, allowing guests ample time to explore this mysterious and still-developing country that you might better recognize as Burma.

Myanmar isn’t an easy country to travel around on your own. The transportation network is primitive, and traffic – particularly in Yangon – is legendary. You’ll spend far more time sitting stopped in traffic than not. Domestic flights are complicated, and even the act of obtaining a visa isn’t the easiest process.

Silversea simplifies all of that. A few days prior to the ship’s arrival, Visa paperwork was sent to every suite onboard. Silversea arranged for tourist visas for all guests onboard, and had already pre-filled out most of the paperwork for us, which amounted to five pages per guest. Silversea then took care of the arrangements and clearance formalities, and we stepped ashore as if we were calling on St. Thomas in the Caribbean for a day.

Silversea offered a number of shore excursions in Yangon, ranging from full-day panoramic city tours to half-day sightseeing ‘tasters.’ The line also took advantage of the three-day stay in Yangon to offer guests Mid-Voyage Land Adventures: overland excursions to places that would otherwise be impossible to reach with only one day in port.

On my sailing, these mid-voyage land adventures (available at an additional cost) included a two-day trip to see the magnificent temples at Bagan, and a one-day journey north, to the city of Mandalay.

Since I’d been to Bagan and Mandalay last year on a river cruise, I elected to spend three days touring Yangon and the nearby port city of Thanlyin. Silversea also doesn’t force you to take a tour if you don’t want to: despite our remote docking location that was, with traffic, nearly an hour’s drive from Yangon city center, Silversea arranged for complimentary shuttle busses to run between the Silver Shadow and Yangon’s historic train station, located in the heart of the city.

It’s the kind of little touch that most lines don’t provide. Surely there’s a considerable cost with providing shuttle busses for 12 hours a day for three days. And yet, it is one of many little perks that you’re entitled to in most ports of call when you sail with this luxury line.

Even though we’ve seen some spectacular sights on this cruise (like “James Bond Island” in Phuket and the sprawling city of Kuala Lumpur), you’d be hard-pressed to find a guest here onboard who wasn’t entranced by Myanmar. Yangon’s glittering Shwedagon Pagoda is a marvel by day and night, and the sheer number of golden temples and stupas that dot the countryside is a sight to behold. The Burmese people are, to a fault, friendly and helpful, and you can still walk through packed local markets teeming with goods, foods and people without fear of being pickpocketed or harassed in any way.

If you want to see Myanmar for yourself, Silversea has a bunch of different ways you can do that. As of right now, there are three Silversea Expedition cruises and five “classic” voyages that will all call on Myanmar between now and 2018. They are:

I often tell people there are a lot of good reasons to consider a luxury cruise, and here in Southeast Asia, those reasons are even more readily apparent.

Every time we disembark Silver Shadow, complimentary bottled water is available at the gangway. Every time we come back onboard, cold towels and refreshing drinks are offered to guests as a matter of course.

Aboard all Silversea ships, all beverages are included in the cost of your cruise, with the exception of all but the most premium wines and vintage cognacs and scotches. Gratuities are included, and additional tipping is never expected. Every room onboard is a suite, and every suite has butler service. It sounds stuffy and haughty, but it’s not: your butler is there to assist you in any way possible, from making dining reservations to inquiring about shore excursion options, or just stocking your suite with your favorite drink preferences.

Your butler can also present one of nine different types of pillows from Silversea’s Pillow Menu, or provide your choice of Bulgari or Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries. A hypo-allergenic option is also available as a third choice. Want to change you mind one day in to the cruise, or even halfway into your voyage? No problem. Your butler will just add those toiletries to your suite. Suites come stocked standard with Bulgari Green, while high-end suites feature Bulgari White.

Next year is an exciting one for Silversea. The line will be refurbishing most of its existing fleet, including Silver Shadow, in what is one of the largest projects in the company’s history. It will also take delivery of the new, 596-guest Silver Muse in April, and fall will see the company’s first luxury ship – the 296-guest Silver Cloud – converted into a new expedition ship. With a reduced passenger count of between 200 and 260, she’ll be given new suites, new public areas, inflatable zodiac rafts and an ice-strengthened hull. She makes her maiden expedition voyage to Antarctica next November.

I’ve still got a few more days here aboard the Silver Shadow. After another pleasantly warm day at sea today, we’ll be arriving in Langkawi, Malaysia on Thursday before our last port of call in Malacca, Malaysia on Friday. It’s been a wonderful journey, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it ends.

Happy cruising.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/cruising-through-myanmar-and-southeast-asia-aboard-silverseas-silver-shadow/feed0ftdc_silvershadow-0583aaronpsaundersSometimes to win is to losehttp://o.canada.com/life/sometimes-to-win-is-to-lose
http://o.canada.com/life/sometimes-to-win-is-to-lose#respondTue, 08 Nov 2016 12:00:16 +0000http://o.canada.com?p=761774&preview_id=761774]]>Donald Trump once had his own board game.

“It’s not whether you win or lose,” promised the ad, which ran in 1989. “It’s whether you win.”

It seems the U.S. presidential candidates have taken this advice to the campaign trail. Winning is the only option.

With positions of influence (and a massive media presence), these leaders are role models for youth. We got to thinking about what kids are learning about competition, both from the election and from an increasingly cutthroat social culture.

Kids are set up to compete at almost everything. They’re graded at school, pushed to outperform each other on the sports field and pressured into vying for popularity on social media. Most benchmarks for achievement are ranking systems among peers.

“One can succeed at something — cooking a meal, solving a math problem —without ever trying to triumph over someone else,” he adds.

Research suggests that certain healthy competitive environments help children perform better. A race makes them run faster, a friendly game helps both teams improve a skill. But while a winner’s high offers performance incentive, there’s a risk that kids’ self-esteem can become dependent on beating others.

Fierce or negative opposition causes anxiety that makes it hard for kids to do their best. The key is to point out the difference.

If parents want to help their kids become more gracious competitors than our potential world leaders, the key is cooperation. Support and respect for little- league rivals and the peers they’re meant to work with is required.

“We have been raised to confuse succeeding with winning.”

One town hall debate ended with Trump and Clinton naming something they respected about the other. That moment of civility is a learning opportunity. Teaching your child to recognize the skills of their opponents encourages mutual respect, which takes the sting out of losing and the fun out of gloating — a bully behaviour that comes with a hostile contest.

Children should focus on personal goals rather than breaking down others. Whether they win or lose a game of soccer isn’t as important as developing a skill — like heading the ball or mastering a trick shot.

And parents, watch what you say on the sidelines.

Research shows that children don’t start exhibiting competitive tendencies, like sabotaging opponents to win a simple game, until the age of four. But they learn social cues from those around them even earlier.

Are you trash-talking coworkers while gunning for a promotion? Yelling at the TV when your team botches a free throw?

“If you need to beat others, your child will learn that from you,” says Kohn. Left to their own devices, children are natural co-operators, he adds.

We’ve seen youth work together to build schools and clean-water projects overseas, from the foundation up. We’ve seen them harness competition in a positive way, with teams facing off to fundraise the most for a cause.

In the right circumstances, competition is motivation for self-improvement, and even a boost to achieve a shared goal.

Our kids are tomorrow’s politicians and business leaders. The arenas they compete in — the classroom, the sports field — only get bigger. And so do the stakes they’re playing for, whether in the boardroom or on the debate stage.

You can’t avoid competition outright, but you can teach your child to achieve victories without defeating others.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of theWE movement,which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop-culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES

Big release on Nov. 11: Arrival.

Big picture: It’s like Contact meets District 9 meets War of the Worlds — minus most of the war (your first clue is the lack of aggressive words — war, independence, invasion, etc. — in the title). When mysterious UFOs begin landing across the globe, an elite team of scientists and soldiers (Hollywood’s favourite odd couple!) is assembled to investigate, including linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams). Her job is to get answers to two questions: “What do they want?” and “Where are they from?” (This time, I suspect E.T. wants to do a lot more than phone home.) As for the aliens, they look a lot like giant octopuses with ink-like tentacles, and appear to speak in “elephant.” (BTW: You can tell Trump isn’t president in the movie. There would be no waiting for translation. It’d be a quick label of “nasty” alien, followed by tiny fingers on the nuclear launch pad and movie would be over in 20 minutes.)

As for Adams’s brainy heroine? With the help of alien-induced flashbacks, she’s humanity’s only hope to solve this interstellar Rubik’s Cube before someone starting shooting. Note to Earth’s renowned linguists: If the army ever shows up in helicopters, and says, “pack your bags,” it can’t mean anything good. Either aliens have arrived, apes have evolved and are plotting humanity’s downfall, or Atlantis is finally invading and you’ll need to learn to speak dolphin. Stat.

Forecast: After critics panned both Batman v. Superman and Suicide Squad, I predict Arrival is secretly DC’s next Superman movie in disguise. Lois Lane (Adams) is already on the scene, and who’s to say the alien ships aren’t from Krypton? Maybe the squids are like Kryptonian Chihuahuas. But seriously, I don’t have to be a language guru to guess at the intentions of Arrival’s aliens. Tentacle-covered creatures land in a world made of mostly water? They’re intergalactic ocean squatters. On a side note, this sci-fi blockbuster is a further sign that Canadian director Denis Villeneuve has truly arrived.

Miguel Rivas, left, and Emma Hunter are anchors of The Beaverton [Comedy/Bell]

Big picture: Laughter is a cure for political frustration. In the U.S., the most toxic election in history has disillusioned voters. In Canada, we agonizingly wait for Justin Trudeau to commit to giving every citizen a free puppy. Enter The Beaverton, based on the popular fake news website. Both Canadian headlines and international news will be in the TV shows satirical sightlines. Take comfort in the absurd. Early fake news stories include Don Cherry unveiling a new clothing line for women and Canada moving to Canadian Tire money as its national currency (finally, your crazy uncle’s dream come true!).

Meanwhile, for Yankee yucks, inaugurate your Nov. 7 with The 2016 SNL Election Special (NBC). Expect Alec Baldwin to appear with a fresh Trump impression. Then Stephen Colbert’s live election night special — the aptly subtitled Who’s Going to Clean Up This Shi*t? — airs on cable (Nov. 8, The Movie Network) instead of his usual CBS Late Show slot. Expect Colbert to take off the comedy kid gloves mandated by broadcast TV.

For non-political Canuck comedy, the animated series Knuckleheads — from the team behind the popular French TV and web series Têtes à claques — debuts in prime time after a stint on Teletoon at Night. Clay animation and digitalized, exaggerated human features combine for an unlikely one-two comic punch. Meanwhile, the search for Canada’s Smartest Person (not named David Suzuki) continues.

Forecast: Colbert will prove the most insightful and entertaining way to watch our neighbours choose between the two detested candidates. Am I the only one who’d like to see a celebrity edition of Canada’s Smartest Person featuring the likes of Margaret Atwood, Rex Murphy, Justin Bieber (with the help of unlimited lifelines) and Don Cherry (with the help of unlimited Ron MacLeans)?

Honourable mention: The True Memoirs of an International Assassin (Nov. 11, Netflix). A Netflix original comedy, this time starring Kevin James as a bumbling author accidentally turned bumbling assassin. It’s like Castle meets James Bond meets … do you really need a formula? It’s Kevin James in a movie not good enough for theatres. His characters’ nickname is The Ghost. Surprisingly, Adam Sandler doesn’t co-star, so that’s one positive.

Big picture: The Police’s siren song has long faded, but Sting is still poignant on his 12th solo album. The venerable artist veers back to rock after forays into everything from classical to holiday tunes. He was joined in the studio by members of the Tex-Mex group the Last Bandoleros (maybe Sting should rebrand as Picadura?). Standout tracks include the ballad 50,000, written the week of Prince’s death, which finds the 64-year-old Sting confronting mortality.

When it comes to immortality, the Rolling Stones release a live album of their historic March concert in Havana, Cuba. It should have been called Havana Moon: Live Because We Keep Breathing Through a Combination of Voodoo Magic, Blood Sacrifice and Duct Tape. The album closes with (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction. One suspects the Stones’ fan on your Christmas list won’t feel the same way.

Forecast: Sting showed up in the studio with no new material, writing the album on the spot. That alone puts the Stones, who haven’t released a good studio effort in decades, to shame.

Honourable mention: Martha Wainwright (Goodnight City). The Canadian singer-songwriter delivers a raw, personal album of 12 new tracks, which includes six of her own and an additional six tunes donated by the likes of Beth Orton, Glen Hansard, brother Rufus Wainwright and author Michael Ondaatje.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/pop-forecast-for-nov-7-arrival-the-beaverton-and-more/feed0ARRIVALpostmedianews1The BeavertonStingGood things come in no packageshttp://o.canada.com/life/good-things-come-in-no-packages
http://o.canada.com/life/good-things-come-in-no-packages#respondTue, 01 Nov 2016 11:00:10 +0000http://o.canada.com?p=761750&preview_id=761750]]>What’s in your fridge? Perhaps there’s bacon. Or the fixings for an omelette with cheese and tomato.

But how much is actually edible? How much of it is packaging?

Bacon slices are peeled out of a disposable plastic packet, while the eggs stand sentinel in a Styrofoam carton. Tomatoes are locked in a clamshell box, those miniature plastic prisons for produce. Cheese slices come individually wrapped.

Eco-entrepreneurs like Vancouver’s Brianne Miller want to help reduce the rubbish produced by our daily bread. Miller is bringing a new global trend to Canada: the zero-waste grocery store.

A marine biologist, Miller often encounters water pollution and its effect on aquatic life around the globe. On a trip to Borneo, an island known as a pristine diver’s paradise, she was greeted by a floating carpet of litter atop the waves. Her resolve? Reduce the amount of garbage Canadians produce, and reduce the impact on our oceans. In 2015, she launched the Zero Waste Market, Canada’s first waste-free pop-up grocery store.

Miller’s market began with monthly kiosks that would “pop up” temporarily inside other (non-food), urban stores, like retailer Patagonia. Her sites became so popular that Miller is now working to get the Zero Waste Market a permanent home. Meanwhile, two other zero-waste stores have joined Canada’s scene. Green, on B.C.’s Salt Spring Island, launched in June, and Montreal’s Méga Vrac opened in September.

The idea has been around in other countries for almost a decade. The U.K.’s first zero-waste store opened in 2007. In 2011, the U.S. got its first waste-free outlet in Austin, Texas. Similar stores have sprung up across Europe.

Canadians send more than nine million tonnes of garbage to landfills every year—an estimated 35 per cent is packaging

Miller’s kiosks offer fruit and veggies, bread, and a wide array of dried goods like grains and nuts, all displayed in reusable containers. Shoppers scoop what they want into their own bags, jars and Tupperware, and pay by weight. (It’s like a bulk food store, but with fresh produce and without the plastic bags and twist ties.) There’s even cleaning products like dish soap and laundry detergent in large dispensers.

The Zero Waste Market has faced a few challenges. Sourcing locally grown fruits and veggies supplied without packaging is easy. But for popular items like mangos and avocados that can’t survive Canadian winters, Miller had to hunt for suppliers abroad who were willing to ship in reusable bins. And for now, there’s no meat on the shelves. Canadian food safety requirements mean that selling meat without packaging is tricky, though Miller is working with regulators to accommodate this.

Although the trend is spreading, there isn’t a zero-waste store in every Canadian neighbourhood. However, most major chains are trying to reduce waste. They’re offering a range of reduced-packaging products (like cheese slices in a single, re-sealable envelope instead of individually wrapped). And of course shoppers are now encouraged to bring their own reusable shopping bags.

More ambitious ideas like fully compostable packaging, promoted by the National Zero Waste Council, a Canadian group focused on waste prevention, could help move the needle if consumers pressure big stores.

Miller is currently negotiating a lease and hopes to open the full-time Zero Waste Market this fall. When she does, Miller estimates her one store alone will reduce the number of food containers going to landfills by 100,000 a year.

They say good things come in small packages. Perhaps the best things come in no packages at all.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of theWE movement,which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day.

]]>http://o.canada.com/life/good-things-come-in-no-packages/feed0zero_wastecraigkielburgerCBC’s Exhibitionists proves home is where the art ishttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/cbcs-exhibitionists-proves-home-is-where-the-art-is
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/cbcs-exhibitionists-proves-home-is-where-the-art-is#commentsMon, 31 Oct 2016 20:16:20 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761761]]>Some art purists are quick to extol classic works like American Gothic. The CBC-TV series Exhibitionists, however, staunchly focuses on Canadian modern.

Now in its second season, the show spotlights homegrown artists who are redrawing the creative landscape. And with their emphasis on social media tools like Instagram and Twitter, this ain’t your grandma’s art show.

“Right now a lot of artists are realizing that they don’t always have to go to the gallery or theatre to make their art heard,” says host Amanda Parris, herself a creator and educator.

“They can use YouTube and Instagram, and they’re building their own followings that become so large that the galleries actually have to pay attention to them.”

Here are five artists recently featured in this season of Exhibitionists.

Exhibitionists [CBC]

NIMISHA BHANOT

Painter Nimisha Bhanot’s photo series explores society’s expectations of South Asian women. Bhanot flips the stereotypes of their quiet, subservient nature by positioning them as rebel pin-ups who smoke cigars, wear short-shorts and drink wine without shame.

Exhibitionists [CBC]

BESOS

Besos, a self-taught Toronto-based makeup artist and creator, is known for transforming ordinary faces into Day of the Dead-inspired skull looks. On Exhibitionists, however, she shows viewers how create a realistic-looking feline face using simple makeup techniques.

Exhibitionists [CBC]

AMBIVALENTLY YOURS

“Ambivalence means loving and hating simultaneously, which is often confused for an inability to make up one’s mind, or not having a strong opinion,” writes feminist artist Ambivalently Yours on her Tumblr account. “Not being a fan of having to make up my mind, I have decided to remain in-between, boldly undecided.”

Exhibitionists [CBC]

TIERNEY MILNE

Tierney Milne is an exhibitionist in residence for Episode 4 of Exhibitionists. Milne, Montreal-born designer and illustrator currently living in Vancouver, draws on her studies in psychology to comment on our inner and outer landscapes in creative and colourful ways.

Exhibitionists [CBC]

CHRIS HADFIELD, TERRY FAN AND ERIC FAN

Astronaut Chris Hadfield’s first children’s book, The Darkest Dark, features illustrations by brothers Terry and Eric Fan. The book, which Hadfield co-wrote with Kate Fillion, centres on a nine-year-old boy who learns to conquer his fear of the dark and follow his dreams.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop-culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES

Big releases on Nov. 4: Doctor Strange; Trolls.

Big picture: Imagine Sherlock Holmes if he could fly and travel between dimensions. Elementary, my dear Earthlings! Benedict Cumberbatch plays doctor Stephen Strange, a neurosurgeon turned into a powerful sorcerer and superhero (and future Avenger?). After a debilitating car accident, Strange finds his way to what appears to be Hogwarts for adults — only replace Dumbledore with a bald, coy monk played by Tilda Swinton. Strange quickly discovers new universes, new enemies (naturally) and new powers — like the handy ability to shape reality. Strange is like Neo in The Matrix, only he gets to don a snappy Count Dracula cloak.

Meanwhile, the animated Trolls features a wallop of insanely happy, cute, colourful and musical creatures. These Trolls don’t live under bridges, mutter riddles or hunger for human flesh. They have neon hair, they sparkle, and they hunger for humans to go “awwwwwww.” (Were a band of tie-dyed, drug-addled hippies recently put in charge of DreamWorks’s animation department?) They are the kind of good-natured prey that offers cupcakes to their own predator — namely Bergens (a creature far more akin to traditional trolls.) This family outing is animated by the charming voice work of Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake (who produces and sings on the soundtrack), Zooey Deschanel, Gwen Stefani and James Corden.

Forecast: The Hulk may “smash” things, but Doctor Strange smashes “reality” — and the fall box office. (Am I the only one hoping for a future Marvel-DreamWorks’ co-production called X-Men vs. Trolls? What better way to wipe away those cloying, cutesy Troll smiles than the sight of Wolverine’s claws?)

Honourable mentions: Hacksaw Ridge. Mel Gibson is back … behind a camera. It’s Braveheart meets pacifism. Gibson directs this true story about a Second World War medic, Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), who saved 75 men without firing — or even carrying — a gun, and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Big picture: Is Jason Momoa about to do the unthinkable: make the Hudson’s Bay Company edgy and sexy? The Game of Thrones star leaves his Khaleesi behind in Westeros and heads to the Canadian frontier. Momoa sports far more than a loincloth to play Declan Harp, a ruthless, violent player in often-frigid world of fur trading. The new Canadi-U. S. co-production follows the chaotic, violent struggle for wealth and power during the 18th-century North American fur trade. There’s greed, betrayal and revenge — not to mention bloody axes, and axes to grind. This action-packed series wears Canadian history on its furry sleeves. The series is poised to make Canadian actress Jessica Matten, a relative newcomer, a breakout star. Newfoundland’s Shawn Doyle and Allan Hawco (Republic of Doyle) help complete the Can-Con in the international cast.

Meanwhile, The Crown deals a royal flush in its examination of the early reign of Queen Elizabeth II. It co-stars Claire Foy (nailing the part of the newly crowned monarch), Matt Smith and John Lithgow. It’s like The Tudors meets Game of Thrones meets … reality. We watch the young, quietly assertive Queen handle government relations and international tensions, and overcome sexism, marital strife and jealous rivals. Sadly, we probably don’t find out why she started wearing all those eye-popping hats.

Forecast: The rollicking drama Frontier — set in a raw, rugged James Bay — will give a well-deserved morale boost to history teachers across the nation. But I suspect the series’ ratings will be dismal in all beaver dam households with a cable subscription.

Alicia Keys releases her new album Here []

MUSIC

Big releases on Nov. 4: Alicia Keys (Here); Bon Jovi (This House is Not for Sale).

Big picture: When Bon Jovi tries to sound rebellious, you want to pat frontman Jon on his well-coiffed head. It’s almost as cloying as watching an animated, rainbow-hued troll. The rockers new effort comes from the same man who has bragged about riding steel horses, and once declared “a king’s ransom in dimes I’d give each night just to see through this pay phone.” If you’re a fan, you’re a fan, and you’ll be welcome in this House. Not much has changed — except Phil X replaces Richie Sambora as lead guitarist. Meanwhile, Alicia Keys deliver her highly anticipated follow-up to 2012’s Girl on Fire.

Forecast: Keys is all about the Here and now. She again proves she is one of today’s finest songwriters.

Honourable mention: The Darcys (Centerfold). One of Canada’s most creative, daring bands, this dynamic duo takes centre stage with an effort of shimmering, sparkling, hook-laden pop that would be right at home in the 1980s.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/pop-forecast-for-oct-31-doctor-strange-frontier-and-more/feed0Doctor Strangepostmedianews1FrontierAlicia KeysTime for Canada to take its shothttp://o.canada.com/life/time-for-canada-to-take-its-shot
http://o.canada.com/life/time-for-canada-to-take-its-shot#respondTue, 25 Oct 2016 11:00:57 +0000http://o.canada.com?p=761698&preview_id=761698]]>When we heard about Wexford Collegiate School in Scarborough receiving a cease-and-desist letter for their unlicenced production of Hamilton, we got to wondering. First, about heartless intellectual property lawyers. Second, why would a group of Canadian students risk a takedown notice to perform an American history musical?

What about Canada’s own history?

Don’t get us wrong—we dig Hamiltonmania . The hip-hop musical recounts the American Revolutionary War with a diverse cast playing America’s founding fathers as they deliver rapid-fire verses about politics, love, war and social justice.

The show won a Grammy and eleven Tony Awards this year, and is constantly sold out (unless you’re willing to sell a kidney to pay for resale tickets). Craig found this out during an unsuccessful attempt to secure seats on his last trip to New York.

We also discovered that kids can’t get enough of Hamilton. They connect with the language of rap and hip-hop. They see themselves in the diverse cast. A new generation is finding themselves hooked on American history that also reflects the present.

Diversity could be the key to helping more Canadians see themselves in their own history

Canada may have beaten America to the stage in releasing a smash-hit history musical. Billy Bishop Goes to War, released in 1978, recounts the life of First World War pilot Billy Bishop, and is one of Canada’s most widely produced pieces of theatre.

“It’s a cultural revolution of new voices on the Broadway stage, which has been so dominated by mainstream white culture.”

Schultz, like many Canadians, wants to see diversity on the Canadian stage and screen. Soulpepper just helped CBC launch Kim’s Convenience, the first Canadian sitcom led by Asian actors. The show, which premiered Oct. 11, is based on a play Soulpepper first ran in 2012.

“We have to make sure that the faces on our stage represent the faces in our community,” says Schultz.

Diversity could be the key to helping more Canadians see themselves in their own history.

Maybe it’s time we took a page from the Hamilton playbill and tried retelling our stories in a way that represents our country today, with new casts, and music that resonates with young people. These are our future leaders, and they have the most to learn from our past.

The next big musical might come from an indigenous artist, portraying the resurgence of indigenous culture in the horrible aftermath of residential schools, suggests Shultz.

Canada has so many stories worth telling. Imagine a hip-hop remix of the coded gospel songs used to plan escapes and share directions on the Underground Railroad to Canada. Or a memoir musical (memoirsical?), about Nellie McClung and the Famous Five updated with Adele-style power ballads about the rights — and voices — of women.

“We have to make sure that the faces on our stage represent the faces in our community”

Imagine an actor belting this out to the tune of Rolling in the Deep: Stoke the embers burning in this land/Rise up like wildfire, in all daughters command/Finally we see what must be done/No more waiting, the revolution’s come

We probably shouldn’t be the ones to write it, but you get the idea.

And let’s not be afraid to show the darker moments in our history. The racism endured by former slaves in Canada. The exploitation of indigenous Canadians. The internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War.

This is our history, and it’s our duty to learn from and re-tell it. Let’s re-imagine these narratives to show all the diversity and creativity of Canada today. Because these stories belong to all of us, and every one of us has a part in telling them.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of theWE movement,which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day.

]]>http://o.canada.com/life/time-for-canada-to-take-its-shot/feed0hamiltoncraigkielburgerCelebrity warms up its Caribbean schedule for the winterhttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/celebrity-warms-up-its-caribbean-schedule-for-the-winter
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/celebrity-warms-up-its-caribbean-schedule-for-the-winter#respondTue, 25 Oct 2016 01:53:43 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761733]]>At this time of year, when the weather likely starts to get cooler, rainier or the threat of snow looms, I get antsy to book a cruise to the Caribbean. That way, it will make for a great escape from our Canadian winter.

I really like what Celebrity Cruises is doing in the Caribbean this year. Renowned for their stunning megaships, excellent cuisine and high-quality on-board features, Celebrity has carved up a great mix of sailings this year that range from just a few days to a few weeks.

Celebrity is a great ‘happy medium’ cruise line. They’re more upscale than, say, Royal Caribbean, but they’re still priced a lot more competitively than luxury or upper-premium cruise lines. Celebrity’s ships are also a great choice for those who want all the benefits of a big cruise ship (multiple lounges, nightly entertainment, large open deck spaces) but with an onboard atmosphere that’s a little bit more cerebral than some of the other mainstream lines that sail the Caribbean. Kids and families are still welcome; things just don’t get quite as zany.

This fall, Celebrity has Caribbean cruises sailing out of three ports: Fort Lauderdale (Fla.), Miami, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Personally, I’m a huge fan of Celebrity Summit’s winter sailings from San Juan. These weeklong cruises have some of the best ports of call in the Caribbean, with stops made in St. Thomas, Saint Kitts, Dominica and Martinique.

But Celebrity has some great cruises leaving out of Fort Lauderdale aboard Celebrity Silhouette, including the Dec. 11 departure that explores the Western Caribbean for a week. This one stops Key West, Fla.; Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Falmouth, Jamaica. That Celebrity has it advertised as starting from just over $700 per person (prices subject to change) is the icing on the cake.

If you have less time (or if you just happen to be in Florida in January and want a little escape), Celebrity Silhouette is operating a quick three-day run from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau on Jan. 19, 2017. There’s also a four-day jaunt to Cozumel and back departing on Jan, 8, 2017. I don’t know that I’d advise flying all the way to Florida to take a four-day cruise (I did it once, about six years ago, and found it to be a lot of flying for such a quick trip), but these short voyages can be a great option for those that would have difficulty taking a full week off work. And a quick cruise is better than no cruise.

If you’re going to dip into the vacation time, I’d recommend this one: an 11-day voyage aboard the 2,850-guest Celebrity Equinox on Feb. 20, 2017. This one is particularly noteworthy for its unique three-day overnight stay in New Orleans that coincides with Mardi Gras. The ship arrives at 6:30 p.m. (local time) on Feb. 26 and stays in New Orleans until the evening of Feb. 28. Other ports of call on this sailing are George Town, Grand Cayman; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Cozumel, Mexico.

Also worthy of your vacation time: the 11-night “Ultimate Caribbean Cruise” on Celebrity Equinox that swings all the way down to Colón, Panama. Two departure dates are offered (Jan. 9 and Jan. 30, 2017) on this voyage, which also visits Cozumel for an overnight stay (perfect for doing longer tours out to nearby Playa del Carmen, Cancun, or the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza); George Town; Puerto Limón, Costa Rica; and Cartagena, Colombia.

Most cruises to the Caribbean on other lines simply leave from Miami and stop at what I like to call “the usual suspects:” St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Nassau, Bahamas. And once you’ve done that run a few times, it can be far more rewarding to branch out and see just how diverse the Caribbean is. The eastern, western and southern parts of this region may all be sun-splashed slices of paradise, but the local food, culture, and heritage varies greatly from place to place. And it’s that history and local culture that keeps me coming back to sail the Caribbean time and time again.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop-culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.MOVIES

Big release on Oct. 28: Inferno.

Big picture: First he cracked The Da Vinci Code, then he battled Angels & Demons. Perhaps its only fitting that symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is now headed for Dante’s inferno. In the new thriller, our brainy hero follows a trail of clues and conspiracies tied to the great Dante himself — the poet who, we’re told, “defined our modern conception of hell” (until the current American presidential race).

Along the way, Langdon must combat drug-induced visions of hell and stop a plague from being unleashed — but, hey, at least her gets to take a trip to Florence, Italy. Beyond solving riddles, Langdon’s second favourite hobby appears to be exposition: “Oh my god, Dante’s Inferno isn’t fiction!” You can thank lazy screenwriters who think we’re all stupid.

Forecast: Given so many ancient masters of literature and invention have left codes in their work, what kind of secrets will Langdon’s symbologist grandchildren be solving? I’m hoping there’s mysterious subtext hidden in the Harry Potter series that leads to the real Hogwarts.

Big picture: Community’s Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) heads to the Great Indoors as a veteran adventure travel writer re-assigned to an office job managing the magazine’s semi-useless millennials (i.e. the digital department). Of course, he only communicates in sarcasm, and they only communicate via social media … so cue the generational misunderstandings. Co-stars include Christopher Mintz-Plasse and veteran English comedian Stephen Fry as the mag’s top boss.

Meanwhile, Pure Genius is a new medical drama that combines Silicon Valley, ER and House. Augustus Prew plays tech mogul James Bell, a man on a mission: spending zillions to create the world’s most cutting-edge hospital. (Yes, of course he has ulterior motives). Dermot Mulroney plays the requisite controversial, surly but brilliant surgeon. The average hospital room has more gadgets and gizmos than the bridge of the Enterprise. Meanwhile, Bell is like a rich, altruistic snake-oil salesman: promising cures and miracles to everyone that walks and wheels through the door.

Forecast: McHale will prove he deserves to be a comic leading man; Pure Genius will prove the public’s addiction to medical dramas is incurable.

Honourable mention: Man With a Plan (Oct. 24, CBS/Global). Matt LeBlanc joins fellow Friends alum Matthew Perry (The Odd Couple) in your Monday night comedy lineup. (Maybe David Schwimmer can land an appropriately titled sitcom called Man Without a Plan). As for LeBlanc, he plays a father who must take charge of his young brood when his wife returns to work. Cue Kindergarten advice like “a punch in the nose is a real problem solver” and parenting plans that include feeding Listerine strips to hungry kids.

The Hidden Camera release Home On Native Land []

MUSIC

Big release on Oct. 28: The Hidden Cameras (Home on Native Land).

Big picture: The Hidden Cameras make a flashy return from living in Europe with this quirky, idealized take on Canadiana — an album complete with country twang and collaborations with Rufus Wainwright, the Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant, Feist, Bahamas and Ron Sexsmith. New songs appear alongside covers of Canadian standards like Log Driver’s Waltz. (Apparently, the log driver also learns to step lightly in the recording studio.)

Forecast: The Hidden Cameras find themselves in fertile, native soil. (Am I the only one who’d like to watch a Canadian historical drama about a log driver? Your move, CBC. It’s a guaranteed ratings win. Especially if the log driver is shirtless … and native son Ryan Gosling.)

Honourable mention: Tove Lo (Lady Wood). This Swedish songwriter cues the techno-pop … and the career breakthrough. You’ll never forget her name.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/pop-forecast-for-oct-24-inferno-the-great-indoors-and-more/feed1Inferno (2016)postmedianews1The Great IndoorsThe Hidden Cameras Kal Penn waxes political on Designated Survivorhttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/kal-penn-waxes-political-on-designated-survivor
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/kal-penn-waxes-political-on-designated-survivor#respondWed, 19 Oct 2016 14:39:40 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761680]]>Kal Penn isn’t just a former White House employee — he now also plays one on TV. The actor, who was the associate director for the Office of Public Engagement under U.S. President Barack Obama, is waxing political on the TV drama Designated Survivor.

His character, Seth Wright, is a speechwriter turned press secretary for newly installed president Thomas Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland), who’s thrown into the gig after an attack on American soil leaves the previous commander-in-chief dead.

But though the show deals in themes that buoy the current U.S. election cycle, Penn insists that’s not the show’s main focus.

“I told myself I was not going to do a political show until well after Obama left office, because I didn’t want there to be any confusion between the two. But I read it and realized it is Conspiracy Theory 101 — it isn’t a political show at all,” he says.

“Certainly it touches on themes that people talk about a lot — the concept of terrorism, or health care, or government spending or things like that — but that’s much less political and more the process. The stories are all family and conspiracy.”

Kal Penn [Lou Rocco/ABC]

Designated Survivor is a reunion of sorts for Penn and Sutherland, whose paths crossed briefly on the clock-ticking counter-terrorism drama 24. Sutherland was agent Jack Bauer, and Penn was the mouse to his gunslinging cat.

“When I worked on 24, we only overlapped for a day. We only had one scene together and no dialogue together. I think he pulls out his gun and tells me to drop my weapon — that’s the extent of it. So it’s been a real pleasure to get to know him and work with him in this capacity.”

Though Penn has also made an impact on TV with his portrayal of the suicidal Dr. Kutner in House, and as Robin’s therapist-turned-boyfriend on How I Met Your Mother, he’s perhaps best known for playing the stoner Kumar in the Harold & Kumar film franchise. And given the chance, he says he’d gladly revisit the role first seen in 2004’s Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.

“I love (Kumar). He is way cooler than I will ever be. John Cho, who played Harold, he and I joke sometimes that we could be 80 years old and doing Harold & Kumar 50, and I’d be happy just ’cause they’re such silly characters and I love making people laugh,” Penn says.

“For some strange reason, the fans continue to support us and I love them to death for that.”

“I love (Kumar). He is way cooler than I will ever be”

Outside of acting, and aside from his stints in the public sector, Penn taught a 2008 class on Asian-Americans in the media at the University of Pennsylvania. Last year he fronted a UCLA class on young Americans and the Obama administration. But when pressed, the actor is clear about his calling.

“Filmmaking and acting will always be my first love. Storytelling is my first love,” says Penn, who cites the diverse careers of Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington as particularly inspiring.

So another job in politics is out of the question, then?

“I don’t know. It depends. I certainly wasn’t planning on it the first time, and I was really glad I did it, so who knows?”

Designated Survivor airs Wednesdays, CTV/ABC

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/kal-penn-waxes-political-on-designated-survivor/feed0KAL PENNmhank2012Kal PennTake a walk in the woods and call me in the morninghttp://o.canada.com/news/take-a-walk-in-the-woods-and-call-me-in-the-morning
http://o.canada.com/news/take-a-walk-in-the-woods-and-call-me-in-the-morning#respondTue, 18 Oct 2016 11:00:02 +0000http://o.canada.com?p=761658&preview_id=761658]]>As autumn paints the trees in glorious, vibrant colours, many Canadians are taking advantage of these fall days to enjoy the great outdoors before old man winter chases us all inside.

But a little saunter through the greenery (or red and orange-ery, as the case may be), offers more than a pleasant way to pass the time. Studies show that a walk in the woods is good for our physical and mental health.

The Washington Post has declared “forest bathing” the latest trend in the U.S. This stress-reducing practice originated in Japan decades ago, and involves using all of your senses to soak up the experience of being in the woods. A certified forest therapy guide (who is, of course, from Los Angeles), told the newspaper that forest bathing will soon be bigger than yoga.

Engaging all of your senses to commune with nature sounds a bit hokey. But it is part of a growing movement that recognizes green space is more than just lungs for the Earth. Nature is also vital to the well-being of people, and hard science shows it can help address real health concerns.

The next time your doctor takes your blood pressure, she might give you a prescription for strolls in the park, or suggest you plant a few trees.

Green space could be the cure for what ails us.

A 90-minute walk in nature decreases rumination (which can cause depression), by changing the neural activity in the prefrontal cortex, according to a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Researchers examined the impact of trees on populations in big cities, looking at health surveys and tree density in different parts of Toronto. They discovered that people living on tree-lined urban blocks are less likely to report high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Spending time outdoors also reduces feelings of isolation, helps individuals cope with illness, and results in fewer visits to the family doctor and emergency room, according to research by the U.K. National Health Service. The report, backed by the health minister, recommends that doctors hand out prescriptions for things like gardening and frolicking in the woods.

Ontario is now developing a program that will allow a range of health practitioners to receive professional accreditation for prescribing nature. Physicians in the U.S. are already doing this.

The ParkRx program, created and run by U.S. health practitioners, public service agencies and community groups, has mapped out and ranked more than 350 parks for their accessibility to public transit, range of available activities, and safety. In the three years since the program’s launch, American health practitioners have handed out more than 400 prescriptions to patients, encouraging them to spend time in one of the designated parks to alleviate health concerns.

Trees can even tackle social issues beyond health.

Green space lowers crime rates in public housing projects, according to a study from the University of Chicago. Researchers found that incidents of violence and property damage were fewer in landscaped communities. The study concluded that nature reduces aggression and boosts feelings of kinship.

Canada is blessed with an abundance of wild space. But the building density in the suburbs and cities is increasing dramatically, pushing trees farther away from our doorsteps. And beyond our borders, more than half of the world’s population now lives in urban regions.

Knowing that green space is part of the cure for what ails us, let’s make an effort to reconnect with the great outdoors.

Before the winter blahs set in, give yourself a healthy dose of Mother Nature.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of theWE movement,which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

Big picture: I say the same thing to myself after almost every new Tom Cruise movie. Never. Go. Back. Then the trailers lure me in with that plastic, megawatt smile and that mannequin-come-life twinkle in his eyes. Fool me twice, shame on me. (No idea what happens when you’ve been fooled 40-plus times, but it can’t be pretty.) Jack Reacher: Never Go Back follows the silver-screen adventures of the Bond wannabe created by author Lee Child. In this instalment, Reacher returns to his one-time military HQ only to find himself on the wrong side of an internal scandal and high-reaching coverup. Just like Bond with the Secret Service and Bourne with the CIA, Reacher can trust no one. (Yawn.)

Meanwhile, this Ouija sequel is set in the spirited era of the 1960s. It follows a con-artist medium and her aspiring, little con-artist daughters, who pick up a “new prop for work.” Faster than your cousin’s heavy hand can make your Ouija pointer veer to Yes or No, ma’s youngest is possessed by a murderous spirit. Tagline: “It was never just a game.” I would have preferred Jack Reacher: Origin of Evil, in which Tom Cruise tries to communicate with the ghosts of his once A-list career.

Forecast: The Ouija franchise will spawn other board-game horror spinoffs like Hungry Hungry Hippos, Operation, Jenga: Block of Evil, Pictionary: Death by Paper Cut. Meanwhile, Reacher will allow Cruise to extend his career a few more gasps.

Honourable mention: Keeping Up with the Joneses. It’s like Date Night meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets TV’s The Americans. This action-comedy finds a suburban couple (Zach Galifianakis, Isla Fisher) recklessly keeping up with the Joneses (Jon Hamm, Gal Gadot) — their sexy, sophisticated new neighbours who happen to also be dangerous, covert operatives. (Let’s face it, if Hamm and Gadot were your beautiful neighbours you’d “run out” of milk or butter daily.) On a side note: If Hamm and Gadot ever get together and have children, they’ll produce the next step in human evolution. Potential new species names: Hammosapien, Hummot or Gadammerthal. Over to you, scientists.

Big picture: The horror anthology series Channel Zero is like The Ring meets Pee-wee’s Playhouse meets The Hilarious House of Frankenstein. In the first episode, Candle Cove is a creepy, staticky 1980s kids puppet show that used to make kids engage in disturbed, violent behaviour. And sometimes disappear. Now, a small town’s adults are starting to remember — while a new generation is about to get spooked. We’re told the show “can make people do things.” Well, of course it can. Its hosts wear skull masks and straight jackets, and one of them appears to be a burning scarecrow that makes Stephen King’s Pennywise the Clown seem like a good nanny candidate. (This drama’s kind of like Teletubbies but with more murder and bludgeoning.)

Speaking of terror, Netflix picks up the third season of Black Mirror, a brilliant British anthology series about the sinister effects of technology on humanity. It’s like Twilight Zone, only filled with killer robots, avatars, cyber-humans, holograms and social-media sinners. The show’s playful tagline is “the future is bright.”

Forecast: This Channel will give you shivers long after you turn off the remote. (You may never watch any children’s show the same way again. Case in point: try watching Bananas in Pyjamas right after Channel Zero. I dare you.). As for Black Mirror, if you stream all six new episodes (each is a standalone) in one night, you’ll probably smash every smart device and laptop in your house, lock your doors and set up a tent in your backyard.

Honourable Mention: The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again (Oct. 20 Fox). As the cult-classic musical turns 40, this new production stars Laverne Cox (Orange is the New Black) as the vampish Dr. Frank N. Furter.

Big picture: Lady Gaga shows us a (slightly) softer side on Joanne (one of her middle names and the name of her aunt) but still swims in dark undercurrents. The album’s star-studded collaborations include Father John Misty (Sinner’s Prayer) and Florence Welch (Hey Girl) and a songwriting collaboration with Elton John (Room in My Heart). Gaga’s songwriting on this effort were apparently influenced by her acting roles on American Horror Story.

Meanwhile, with an album title like You Want it Darker, Canadian troubadour Leonard Cohen might may be Gaga’s new musical soulmate.

Forecast: The 82-year-old Cohen is talking retirement and a potential final album. But given Gaga’s impressive duet album with Tony Bennett, Cheek to Cheek, I predict a future duet album with Leonard Cohen called Death of a Lady Gaga’s Man.

Honourable mention: David Crosby (Lighthouse). There is no room for Crosby, Stills or Nash in this musical lighthouse. And I’m sure if Neil Young were singing a sea shanty on his way into port, Crosby would even think about flipping the off switch.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/pop-forecast-for-oct-17-jack-reacher-lady-gaga-and-more/feed0ack Reacher: Never Go Backpostmedianews1Black MirrorLady GagaA decade on, Royal Caribbean’s Radiance-class ships still dazzlehttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/a-decade-on-royal-caribbeans-radiance-class-ships-still-dazzle
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/a-decade-on-royal-caribbeans-radiance-class-ships-still-dazzle#commentsSun, 16 Oct 2016 18:16:38 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761673]]>On my last cruise, I met a couple who said they didn’t really want to sail with Royal Caribbean because the company’s ships were “too big.” And while Royal Caribbean certainly has some of the largest ships around, four of their smaller vessels are among my absolute favourites to cruise aboard.

Launched between 2001 and 2004, Royal Caribbean’s four Radiance-class cruise ships (Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas), carry just over 2,000 guests apiece. At 90,090 GRT (gross register tonnage), they’re almost mid-size by modern cruise-ship standards, yet they’re still plenty big, with a length of 293 metres and 12 passenger decks, most of which, are adorned with wall-to-wall glass windows.

These ships are so roomy and uncrowded that, for the most part, you’ll wonder where everyone is. You’ll still find that same amazing sense of grandeur that Royal Caribbean is known for when you walk into the multi-storey atrium that soars all the way up to the pool deck, but throughout the ship, public spaces take on a more clubby, intimate tone.

The ocean — and the scenery beyond it — are of primary importance on these ships. Nearly half of all accommodations feature private balconies, and more affordable oceanview staterooms boast oversized circular windows that feel decidedly nautical. Glass elevators run vertically up the side of the ship, and even the ship’s spa is adorned in walls of glass.

The other reason I like these ships so much is that they’re well looked after. While you won’t find the surfing simulators, bumper cars and robotic bartenders found aboard Royal Caribbean’s newest ships, you will find that these ships look as great today as the day they were launched, thanks to an extensive refit program.

Given their unique size and features, it should be no surprise that Royal Caribbean sends these ships on some of its most picturesque itineraries. Radiance of the Seas, for example, is a staple at Vancouver’s Canada Place Cruise Terminal, where she operates weeklong runs to Alaska each year.

This winter, Radiance of the Seas is sailing some very exciting cruises down in Australia and New Zealand. If you want to head back across the Pacific aboard her, the 18-night Transpacific Crossing from Sydney to Honolulu is a real winner. Departing April 18, 2017, this voyage makes several stops in New Zealand and French Polynesia before arriving in Hawaii.

Radiance returns to her Alaska runs from Vancouver next summer.

Brilliance of the Seas takes an entirely different track, operating quick four- and five-night cruises to the Western Caribbean out of Tampa, Fla. this winter. In the short-cruise market, she’s one of the best ships out there — but be forewarned: you’ll want more than four days to truly get in the real cruise experience. In April, she crosses the Atlantic and begins her summer season of 12-night cruises in the Mediterranean before crossing the South Atlantic again in October of 2017.

Sister Jewel of the Seas makes her winter home base in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she sails weeklong round-trip cruises to the Southern Caribbean. If you’ve never been before, this is the best kind of Caribbean, with calls on St. Croix, Philipsburg, Roseau, Bridgetown, and St. George’s, Grenada. An alternate itinerary stops in Charlotte Amalie, Basseterre, St. John’s, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia, and Bridgetown. Jewel of the Seas then repositions to the Mediterranean for the spring and summer of 2017, sailing out of Rome to Italy and the Greek Isles.

If you’re put off by sailing with 5,000 other guests, Royal Caribbean’s Radiance Class is a breath of fresh air, even a decade after they first set sail.

Happy cruising.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/a-decade-on-royal-caribbeans-radiance-class-ships-still-dazzle/feed1Radiance of the Seas - AlaskaaaronpsaundersNorwegian Bliss to debut in Alaska in 2018http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/norwegian-bliss-to-debut-in-alaska-in-2018
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/norwegian-bliss-to-debut-in-alaska-in-2018#respondThu, 13 Oct 2016 23:42:07 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761654]]>Whenever a new cruise ship debuts, it typically does so in Europe or the Caribbean. Finally, cruisers bound for Alaska have reason to celebrate with the news that Norwegian Cruise Line will homeport its latest-and-greatest ship, Norwegian Bliss, at Seattle’s Pier 66 for her inaugural season in 2018.

After a transatlantic cruise and a Panama Canal transit through the new locks, Norwegian Bliss will sail north along the West Coast, reaching Seattle for the start of the summer cruising season. She becomes the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship to ever debut in Alaska, and will operate roundtrip voyages departing on Saturdays with calls on Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, and Victoria, British Columbia. No mention as of yet as to whether the ship will visit Glacier Bay National Park, or opt for Tracy Arm Fjord.

The decision to homeport Norwegian Bliss in Seattle is especially poignant, as Norwegian led the way in cruising from Seattle, drawing up plans in the late 1990’s at a time when every cruise line operated out of Vancouver, British Columbia. Norwegian inaugurated its service from Seattle waaay back in the day, using the then-brand-new Norwegian Sky.

“Norwegian was the first cruise line to begin cruising to Alaska from Seattle in 2000 and it’s only fitting that we bring our newest ship, Norwegian Bliss, directly to this incredible location,” said Andy Stuart, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Alaska is one of the top destinations for our guests to explore and we are thrilled to be the first cruise line to offer our guests the opportunity to experience this coveted destination aboard a brand new, state-of-the-art cruise ship custom designed for Alaska, the first of its kind to ever debut in Seattle.”

Norwegian has also entered into an agreement to utilise Seattle’s Pier 66 for an additional 15 years. The agreement will include the investment of $30-million to update the 16-year old cruise terminal, including expanded check-in space; a new VIP lounge with views of Elliot Bay; and the addition of two new elevated passenger boarding bridges.

“The Port of Seattle is proud to partner with Norwegian Cruise Line as we work to bring people from around the world to see the great Pacific Northwest from Seattle to Alaska,” said Port of Seattle CEO Ted Fick. “Our long relationship together is evident in this historic and unprecedented 15-year lease here at Pier 66.”

The third ship in the line’s Breakaway-Plus class, Norwegian Bliss has been designed with features and amenities to offer guests the ultimate Alaska cruising experience. At approximately 167,800 gross tons and accommodating 4,000 guests, the ship will be constructed at MEYER WERFT in Papenburg, Germany and scheduled for delivery in Spring 2018. Exact details of the new Alaska enhancements are still forthcoming, and Norwegian expects that bookings for these Spring-Summer 2018 Alaska cruises will be available for bookings in January 2017.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/norwegian-bliss-to-debut-in-alaska-in-2018/feed0norwegianbliss_alaskaaaronpsaundersSilversea releases its luxury 2018 cruise itinerarieshttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/silversea-releases-its-luxury-2018-cruise-itineraries
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/silversea-releases-its-luxury-2018-cruise-itineraries#respondTue, 11 Oct 2016 13:00:06 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761633]]>I always like to research my cruises as far in advance as possible. Doing this not only lets you budget better, but it also lets you plan for those big, one-of-a-kind trips that are likely to sell out fast and early on.

In keeping with that theme, one of my favorite cruise lines – the all-luxury Silversea Cruises – has just released full details of its 2018 itineraries. All told, the company’s fleet of nine classic and luxury expedition ships will visit 130 countries around the globe, calling on one thousand different ports of call; 300 of which are new to the company.

“At Silversea, we don’t believe that ‘bigger is better’, in fact we believe and deliver the complete opposite. A belief perfectly illustrated by our commitment to smaller, more intimate ships that clearly respond to the desires of our guests that tend to favour a refined and understated elegance,” said Roberto Martinoli, CEO at Silversea Cruises.

Among the company’s classic fleet, the brand-new Silver Muse (which makes her debut next spring) will start 2018 off in Fort Lauderdale, where she’ll spend 18 days transiting the Panama Canal and cruising South America. She returns to the Caribbean in March before setting off on a fabulous transatlantic crossing in April of 2018 that will take her north, from Fort Lauderdale to Dublin, Ireland with an overnight call in New York and stops in the Irish ports of Galway, Killybegs, and Belfast.

In Alaska, the 396-guest favorite Silver Shadow returns once again to Vancouver for a full season of cruises between Canada Place and Seward, Alaska. These classic weeklong cruises are some of Silversea’s most popular, calling on Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Sitka, along with scenic cruising of Hubbard Glacier.

There’s also some new deployments to be really excited about. Silversea’s 540-guest Silver Spirit heads off to Cape Town, South Africa for her first winter season of “safari cruises” up the eastern coast of the country, while Silver Explorer sets out on expedition cruises in the Pacific Ocean for the first time in her career, offering cruises through the West Coast and up on into Russia’s Far East.

Vancouverites in particular should be excited about Silver Explorer’s first-ever call at Canada Place, scheduled for May 13, 2018. You can sail for 11 days up from San Francisco to Vancouver on May 2, 2018 on an expedition cruise that explores Monterey, California; Astoria and Rainer, Oregon; and Washington’s San Juan Islands. Or, sail southbound from Vancouver to San Francisco on a similar itinerary on May 13. These ones are going to sell out fast.

Silver Explorer’s new deployment to the Pacific underscores what will be Silversea’s largest deployment of luxury expedition cruises ever, highlighted by the transformation of the 296-guest Silver Cloudinto a fully-fledged, ice-strengthened polar expedition ship in the latter half of 2017.

“As the company that introduced Expedition cruising to the luxury market, Silversea continues to innovate and over-deliver on destinations and experiences, and remains the pioneer in this regard,” adds Martinoli, “2018 will see our expedition ships call at over 250 new destinations and will be the inaugural calendar year for Silver Cloud in the expedition fleet following her conversion, making her the most luxurious cruise ship for expeditions.”

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/silversea-releases-its-luxury-2018-cruise-itineraries/feed0ftdc_silverexplorer_burgerbukta-0142aaronpsaundersBridging the gap yearhttp://o.canada.com/news/bridging-the-gap-year
http://o.canada.com/news/bridging-the-gap-year#commentsTue, 11 Oct 2016 11:00:43 +0000http://o.canada.com?p=761615&preview_id=761615]]>Not every high school graduate knows what they want to be when they grow up (some adults we know still don’t).

“Coming out of Grade 12 and already choosing what you’re going to do with your life? There wasn’t enough time to transition,” says student Ben Simon.

Simon enrolled in a science program at the University of British Columbia, far from his home in Calgary. But the deeper he delved into biochemistry and physics, the more he struggled and his interest waned. Stressed and uncertain, Simon took a break from school after his first year to travel and work.

Half of Canadian high school graduates don’t start a post-secondary program right away, according to Statistics Canada. Others, like Simon, struggle as freshmen and change their path.

Parents often fear that a gap year will set their children back, stunting their education and career opportunities. On the contrary, hitting the pause button to gain life experience before resuming studies can actually boost future prospects.

A year of reprieve means students enter university with sharper career goals. This self-assurance saves time and money that might have been spent changing programs mid-year, says one study out of Dalhousie University. Gap-year students are also eight per cent more likely to land a job after graduation, according to the Canadian Council of Learning.

A gap year can be one of the most valuable parts of a young person’s education

Researchers at the University of London in the U.K. found that recruiters value the “soft skills” acquired during gap years, like communication and organization. We can corroborate that. When our team wades through the 2,400 resumes WE receives each year, we look for people with volunteer and work experience outside of their formal education.

We both took study breaks as students. Marc volunteered at an AIDS hospice in Bangkok before university, and Craig toured South Asia to research child labour, among other field trips outside of school. That time off introduced us to the global community, and renewed our passion for our vocation.

But a stamp-filled passport isn’t a prerequisite for a productive gap year. Volunteer with an organization in your community or through programs like Katimavik, which offers service experiences across Canada. In addition to beefing up your CV with valuable skills like teamwork and time management, volunteering offers opportunities for networking and mentorship.

If you’re bold, try starting a small enterprise—something with low overhead like a home painting service or web design—to learn firsthand about budgets, marketing and customer service.

Colleges and universities can help you approach your gap year thoughtfully (and avoid your parents’ worst nightmare: a year-long frat party). A growing number of institutions now invest in programs to help students plan a meaningful study break.

“A career expert can help talk through your interests, guide you to resources and plan gap-year opportunities that develop valuable competencies,” advises Norah McRae, executive director of co-operative education and career services at the University of Victoria.

Simon, now 21, travelled through Southeast Asia and worked as a lifeguard during his time off school. He also explored other subjects more informally, like psychology, but with less scholastic pressure. Back at school, he’s shifting his science studies to include psychology electives.

“Taking time to explore new perspectives and grow as a person made a huge difference,” Simon told us. “I enjoy school now, and I’m succeeding at it.”

Taking a break after high school or part way into university isn’t a failure to launch. Done right, a gap year can be one of the most valuable parts of a young person’s education.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of theWE movement,which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop-culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES

Big release on Oct. 14: The Accountant.

Big picture: It’s A Beautiful Mind meets The Bourne Identity meets Hitman. Ben Affleck plays Christian, an obsessive math genius — we’re told he’s in the same league as Einstein, Mozart and Picasso — with major people problems. At face value, he runs a small-town accountants office. But he moonlights as a freelancer for notorious mobsters, gang leaders, drug lords and dictators. For some reason his “special” accountant work also involves a private weapons arsenal worthy of a small banana republic. When the feds catch wind of his number cooking, the bodies start to pile up faster than even Christian can count. This role must have been a breeze for Batfleck. He doesn’t appear to crack a smile throughout the entire film. Near as I can tell, the director’s only acting instructions were yelling “more mannequin face!” throughout the shoot.

Honourable mention: This is the best thing to happen to accountants. Ever. Long the butt of jokes and stereotypes as the most boring profession, now Affleck is (kind of) one of them. And he’s totally bad ass. Next up I predict violent, edgy reboots of other less-than-thrilling jobs: The Tree Planter, The Bank Branch Manager, The Dishwasher, The Garbage Collector and (if any studio ever responds to the thousands of scripts I have mailed out) The Journalist. Tag line: “His weapons of choice: the pen … and the bazooka.”

Big picture: The underrated Katy Mixon (Mike & Molly, Eastbound & Down) plays Roseanne for a new generation, if the blue-collar Connor family moved into a Hamptons-esque community of one-per-centres. This new matriarch calls a spade a spade. Loudly. And she must contend with the nefarious Westport mommies: “Flat stomachs … and those stupid green drinks.” The family accepts their fish-out-of-water status to be in a neighbourhood with great schools for their special-needs children. This single-camera family comedy is a rare cause for laughter in the fall lineup. (It was originally titled The Second Fattest Housewife in Westport. Just don’t tell Donald Trump or he’ll stay up all night trash-talking it on Twitter).

Meanwhile, at first glance, Justin Timberlake and The Tennessee Kids are a bit of a let down. At first I hoped JT was going back to his Mickey Mouse Club roots as host of a new children’s show co-starring a bunch of mischievous southern tots (I imagined a modern-day Little Rascals). But the reality is also good news. This Netflix concert doc (Jonathan Demme-directed no less!) captures Timberlake in all his suit-clad, brass-band fuelled, “I wish I had a time machine to go back and join the Rat Pack” glory. Expect an unhealthy amount of smiling, slow-motion dancing, close-ups of screaming women, and slow-motion close-ups of JT pretending he is besties with every musician.

Forecast: American Housewife follows a long line of successful shows with the country’s name in its title: American Horror Story, American Crime, The Americans, etc. By next season I predict American Quilters, American Beagle (about a live-action dog detective), American American (a reality show in which contestants compete via acts of patriotism), and American Accountant (about U.S. accountants and their new-found post-Affleck swagger).

Honourable mention: Mascots (Netflix, Oct. 13). Sports mascots get the Christopher Guest (Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman) treatment. This mockumentary covers an international competition between the world’s top 20 mascots, including Danny the Donkey, the first mascot with an “anatomically correct costume,” Alvin the Armadillo, and The Fist (literally a giant fist and the self-professed “bad boy of mascotery”). You may not laugh this hard all year.

Big picture: Is it a little pretentious to put out an album called Ruminations? Sure. To be fair, Nebraskan singer-songwriter Conor Oberst is from a state that a shares a name with one of the best rock albums of all time. (Thanks, Boss). And the indie favourite could have gone with even more grandiose titles like Philosopher King, Big Thinker, Deep Thoughts or Smarty McSmart Pants. Oberst — best known for his Bright Eyes material — wrote this effort after burning out during a 2015 tour and being hospitalized before a home recovery. Oberst deftly handles vocals, guitar, piano and harmonica on this stripped-down, honest effort.

Meanwhile, Kings of Leon release Walls. The southern-fried arena rockers (think CCR meets Coldplay) may want to join JT for his next Netflix gig. Justin Timberlake and the Kings of Leon sounds like a great concert documentary.

Forecast: Kings of Leon will make this a trilogy with followup albums called Windows and Doors. Oberst’s newbie will fuel the ruminations of countless stoned and/or whimsical college hipsters.

Honourable mention: Moby & The Void Pacific Choir (These Systems Are Failing). Doesn’t this sound like the perfect band for a future post-apocalyptic world? Close second: Julian Casablancas + The Voidz. (I nominate both to play Trump’s inauguration). But seriously, Moby’s new experimental-rock project marks a reinvention phase for everyone’s favourite artist (presumably) named after a giant whale.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/pop-forecast-for-oct-10-the-accountant-american-housewife-and-more/feed0The Accountantpostmedianews1American HousewifeConor OberstMassive MSC Seaside showcases ocean, ports of callhttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/massive-msc-seaside-showcases-ocean-ports-of-call
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/massive-msc-seaside-showcases-ocean-ports-of-call#respondSat, 08 Oct 2016 21:46:47 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761629]]>A little over a year from now, what could be one of cruising’s most unique and innovative ships will enter service in the Caribbean. In December of 2017, MSC Cruises will introduce the 4,140-guest MSC Seaside to the world when she arrives in her home port of Miami — and it looks like this 323-metre-long behemoth will be worth the wait.

Operating year-round cruises to the Caribbean, MSC Seaside is the largest ship that the family-friendly MSC Cruises has ever built, and the first ship in the line’s history that it has based in North America for its inaugural season.

If you’re thinking that 4,000 people is a lot, it is. The reason I’m excited about MSC Seaside is that, unlike other ships that carry that number of guests, MSC has made showcasing the sea of primary importance aboard MSC Seaside.

On other megaships, cruise lines do their best to hide you from the sea, creating inward-facing public rooms with few windows and increasingly scarce open deck space. MSC has designed Seaside from the ground up to showcase the ocean and the ports of call, with a revolutionary new 360-degree wraparound promenade deck that curves attractively in and out with the ship’s superstructure. The ship will also feature a two-story, glass-walled promenade deck, and glass elevators running up the outside of the ship.

MSC is also moving the traditional buffet and pool down to this wraparound space on Deck 8, freeing up space for additional open decks and pools high atop the ship. Most of the ship’s accommodations will feature private balconies, while MSC’s luxury ship-within-a-ship concept, known as the MSC Yacht Club, will be among the largest and most luxurious that the line currently offers. For those who want to hop onboard for the least amount of money, it’s refreshing to know that standard inside staterooms and traditional ocean-view rooms with a fixed window are still offered.

“The bold, groundbreaking design of MSC Seaside speaks of our company’s commitment to innovation and our desire to continue to introduce both experienced and first-time cruisers to experiences that will make their holiday unforgettable,” said Gianni Onorato, chief executive of MSC Cruises. “We’ve seen tremendous enthusiasm and strong demand from travellers around the world interested in experiencing MSC Seaside and are thrilled to be able to open sales for this revolutionary ship two years ahead of its debut.”

One of the best things about MSC is how family-friendly the line is, with activities and programs designed for kids of all ages. MSC Seaside promises to be one of the most family-friendly ships afloat, with special modular staterooms that can accommodate families of up to 10; one of the largest and most interactive aqua parks at sea, and even kids-only restaurants. What’s more, MSC frequently offers some amazing deals on its Caribbean sailings, like kids 11 and under sail free as the third or fourth guest in a stateroom with two paying adults.

MSC is also developing its own private island in the Caribbean, known as the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. The island will feature its own dock (say goodbye to time-consuming tender rides ashore), which allows guests to step off the ship and directly onto the island. The Island will feature a 2,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre along with live music, numerous restaurants and bars, and a special dedicated section for MSC Yacht Club guests.

MSC Seaside will be getting a sister in 2018, which the line recently revealed will be named MSC Seaview. She’ll start her maiden season in the warmth of the Western Mediterranean, with voyages departing from Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona. Although these departures are still nearly two years away, these voyages are now open for booking.

Happy cruising.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/massive-msc-seaside-showcases-ocean-ports-of-call/feed0mscseaside_exterior_renderingaaronpsaundersAvalon Waterways expands theme river cruises in 2017http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/avalon-waterways-expands-theme-river-cruises-in-2017
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/avalon-waterways-expands-theme-river-cruises-in-2017#respondFri, 07 Oct 2016 21:41:56 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761624]]>Almost five years ago, I took my first-ever river cruise on Europe’s Danube river. Despite having cruised for nearly two decades, I’d never tried a river cruise before. My (mistaken) impression was that I’d be bored. In fact, that couldn’t have been further from the truth: river cruises are so immersive that they could almost qualify as an expedition cruise without the inflatable zodiac rafts.

These journeys, however, aren’t merely confined to sailing the same stretch of the river each week. Avalon Waterways is pulling out all the stops for the 2017 river cruise season in Europe, even as ships continue to sail right up until the end of December of this year.

For the active river cruiser, Avalon has its “Active Discovery on the Danube” cruises. A nine-day journey between Budapest, Hungary and Linz, Austria, these voyages offer a variety of active excursions, from hiking tours to guided cycling excursions. There’s even a canoe trip that guests can indulge in, and a hike up to a vineyard.

“Our Active Discovery itineraries give cruisers the opportunity to bike, hike and canoe along the Danube,” said Patrick Clark, managing director of Avalon Waterways. “They can also explore an ice cave, take an archery lesson, descend into an underground salt mine or ascend up a mountain during a guided climb. This is European vacation focused on enjoying every moment of the journey.”

I think this voyage is a real winner – even if you’re not inclined to hop on a bike and cycle the paths that run along the Danube. Avalon also offers some great excursions that should appeal to novice and experienced river cruisers alike on this run, like the offered excursion to the Belvedere Palace in Vienna; a medieval knight’s tournament in Viesegrad, Hungary; or a journey back in time to the dark side of World War II with a tour of the Mauthausen concentration camp near Grein.

This active journey is just one of several themed cruises that Avalon has lined up for next year. Theme river cruises are absolutely fantastic. They have all the regular ports of call that you’d expect, but with excursions and onboard offerings that are tweaked to fit within a single theme. Usually, these voyages are offered on only a handful of dates, so it makes sense to check with your favorite travel agent to ensure you’re actually booked on the one you want.

Next year, Avalon is offering five different wine-themed itineraries, all of which take place in October of 2017. On these voyages, a Master of Wine will educate guests during onboard tastings that can include pairings with chocolate and cheese, along with a special dinner paired with selected wines.

Avalon also offers two culinary-themed river cruises through France, A Culinary Experience from Paris to Normandy (April 25); and A Culinary Experience on the Grand France (April 17). There are also beer-themed voyages in April and July of 2017; Jazz cruises in June; along with themed voyages that focus on music, art, World War II history, and a Jewish Heritage history cruise that departs on August 13, 2017.

You can also cruise through France with Canada’s own Jann Arden, who will be aboard the April 29, 2017Paris to Normandy cruise for four days to offer up a private concert, CD signing, and more. Arden is the godmother of Avalon Tranquility II, which entered service last year. If you’ve ever seen one of Arden’s concerts before, you’ll know she sings a good tune, but is also spectacularly funny. Expect this voyage to be a special one.

The most important thing to remember with these theme cruises: they’re only offered on a couple of sailing dates apiece, and that means they have a tendency to sell out. Which is why you’re reading this now and not early next year: by then, it could be too late to book many of the departures on this list.

Happy cruising.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/avalon-waterways-expands-theme-river-cruises-in-2017/feed0avaloncreativity_rhineaaronpsaundersCould the UN make history this year?http://o.canada.com/news/could-the-un-make-history-this-year
http://o.canada.com/news/could-the-un-make-history-this-year#commentsTue, 04 Oct 2016 11:00:38 +0000http://o.canada.com?p=761581&preview_id=761581]]>There’s another election fraught with gender politics and global consequences, with one candidate braced to become a world leader—and no one is talking about it.

In a body of 193 nations, the secretary-general of the United Nations is both head and heart—coordinating and inspiring countries to work together on global challenges.

In the UN’s 70-year history, none of its eight leaders have been women. When a new boss takes over in October, Kathryn White hopes to see a woman in charge.

“The words ‘secretary-general’ followed by a woman’s name would be an inspiration to all the world’s people,” says White, president of the United Nations Association in Canada.

“It’s time for women to be leading on a global scale,” adds Mieka Buckley-Pearson, a 27-year-old grad student at Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs. She has twice served as secretary-general at the Canadian International Model United Nations, an annual gathering of post-secondary students from around the world.

It’s time indeed. Some of the biggest global challenges today are women’s-rights issues: child marriage, gender-based violence, and the fact that poverty and climate change disproportionately impact women. The UN has the power to play a crucial role in addressing these issues, with gender equality a central component of its Sustainable Development Goals, says White. In recent years, the UN has also passed resolutions on protecting women in conflicts, and including women in peace efforts.

Some of the biggest global challenges today are women’s-rights issues

But the UN has even more work to do, Buckley-Pearson argues. A woman in the driver’s seat will help hold the organization’s feet to the fire, ensuring strategies lead to concrete action, she says. “If women are not there to require the accountability, others are less likely to follow through.”

The selection process for secretary-general begins with member nations nominating candidates—current or former foreign ministers or national leaders, or individuals who have led UN agencies. In decades past, this has been a largely male-dominated pool. Today, however, there are more female presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers.

An increase in qualified women has already helped the UN election make history, observes White. Over the last seven decades, only three women have vied for the UN’s big chair. This year alone, four women from Latin America, Eastern Europe and New Zealand are in the running (two more put their names forward but later withdrew).

Once candidates are nominated, there are interviews with the UN Security Council and, as of this year, an open town-hall session with the General Assembly where diplomats could pose questions. At the end of the process, the Security Council selects a preferred candidate for approval by the General Assembly.

This process is intensely political, with lobbying and campaigning as much as any national election, White tells us. In that political arena, gender bias has already reared its ugly head. In the town-hall session with the General Assembly, all four female candidates were grilled on what they thought it takes to be a strong leader. None of the five male candidates were asked.

With a prime minister who has openly declared himself a feminist, it’s easy for Canadians to overlook the degree to which women still struggle for basic human rights throughout much of the world. A woman in the world’s highest office could help change perspective. “It sends a signal not only to countries, but to UN agencies and even business, that gender equality is important,” Buckley-Pearson says.

It’s a signal the world desperately needs.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of the WE movement, which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop-culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week. MOVIES

Big release on Oct. 7: The Girl on the Train.

Big picture: I might be the only one sad to hear this isn’t the long-awaited sequel to the 1987 comedy Throw Momma from the Train. (I would have also settled for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on the Train). But in truth, movie lovers should be all aboard for this ride. The thriller takes commuter fatigue, paranoia and voyeurism to a whole new level. Rachel’s (Emily Blunt) daily journey home may or may not include losing her mind, witnessing a murder, witnessing an affair, committing a murder, and/or committing a murderous affair!

With its spellbinding, layered mystery (the script is like a Russian doll), not even the characters seem to know what’s happening. What starts as a struggling divorcee’s fantasy about the “perfect” couple she sees from her train window quickly delves into twists worthy of Keyser Söze. There are no usual suspects to be found in this story of a young woman’s disappearance, based on Paula Hawkins’ bestselling novel. Memory lapses? Check. False memories? Check. By the time credits roll, don’t be surprised if we found out the characters live on Inception’s fourth dream level.

Forecast: Alfred Hitchcock would be proud. Train rides haven’t been this suspenseful since his classic Strangers on a Train. That said, Hollywood could have jazzed up the movie title a little. I would have gone with Crazy, Stupid, Love, Murder; Choo Choo to Crazy; Murder Land; or Throw Momma and The Girl on the Train from the Train.

Honourable mention: The Birth of a Nation. This Sundance favourite was a born Oscar contender. The stirring historical drama is based on the story of Nat Turner, an enslaved man who led a slave rebellion in 1831 Virginia.

Big picture: In Conviction, Hayley Atwell leaves the morality of Marvel’s Agent Carter far, far behind. Only time will tell whether she has the superpowers to defeat legal drama cliché. She plays Hayes, a bad seed who happens to be a great lawyer, and a former First Daughter. Did I mention her ma is now a Senator? So she’s basically Chelsea Clinton with a drug addiction, a drinking problem and her father’s sexual appetite (e.g. she’s sleeping with her law students!).

Will she learn to care about anyone but herself? Of course! The life lessons begin when she takes over a wrongful conviction unit to avoid jail time on a drug charge. And who would have guessed it? The DA is not only her boss and blackmailer, but also a former/future flame?

Meanwhile, Timeless is DC’s Legends of Tomorrow meets Quantum Leap (sadly there’s no talking, cigar-chomping hologram named Al). This one’s got two time machines — in fact, duelling time machines (who needs banjos!). Essentially, a rag-tag trio of heroes travel through the past to keep a criminal from changing history. Your ability to suspend your disbelief will be further challenged when you learn a historian (Abigail Spencer) leads them! (Attention all history BAs: Your degrees aren’t useless! You can now officially tell people you’re just waiting for your first time-travelling job.)

Forecast: It’s the head-to-head (time-slot) battle you always dreamt of: Time-travellers vs. lawyers! I predict fall 2017 will see a series about time-travelling lawyers. Law & Order: Time Machine. Motto: “The wheels of justice … are on my time machine.”

Honourable mention: Divorce (Oct. 9, HBO). A long, meandering divorce is mined for laughs in Sarah Jessica Parker’s highly anticipated return to HBO. Her estranged husband is played by the delightfully deadpan Thomas Haden Church, and Molly Shannon co-stars. The show looks like a winner, but I just can’t bring myself to trust Parker. (Coincidentally, I’ve spent years trying to design a time machine solely to go back in time to prevent myself from watching hours of Sex and the City.)

Big picture: Speaking of the past, the 1980s are visiting. Rick Astley is back! His first album in a decade is already a sensation across the pond. (Looks like ’80s-era Astley was right: We’re never going to give him up.)

Meanwhile, Green Day returns with Revolution Radio, which sounds like it could have been written in 1895 (as a tribute to Marconi). Then again, the album’s themes are all too here-and-now. Tracks like Troubled Times discuss an America rife with inequality, division and violence.

Not to be outdone, Canadian rockers Sum 41 become a five piece … and that somehow adds up to Thirteen Voices. What can I say? They’re musicians, not mathematicians. (On a side note, I’d like to travel to the not-so-distant past to slap whoever coined the name for the band’s pending Don’t Call It a Sum-Back Tour.)

Forecast: We’ve all been Rickrolled on the Internet; this time it will happen in real life.

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/pop-forecast-for-oct-3-girl-on-the-train-conviction-and-more/feed0The Girl on the Trainpostmedianews1Conviction Rick Astley Transatlantic crossing the Star attraction for Vikinghttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/transatlantic-crossing-the-star-attraction-for-viking
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/transatlantic-crossing-the-star-attraction-for-viking#respondSun, 02 Oct 2016 18:53:09 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761593]]>NANORTALIK, Greenland — By the time you read this, Viking Cruises’ 930-guest Viking Star will be docked in Quebec City, just one day away from finishing her inaugural transatlantic crossing in Montreal on Sunday.

This crossing is the first time the cruise line has ever sailed Viking Star to North America. The vessel’s arrival in Montreal will usher in the first official voyages to the Canadian Maritimes, New England, the U.S. Eastern Seaboard, as well as the sunny Southern Caribbean on voyages from San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Viking Star will make her home this winter.

Torstein Hagen, Viking’s chairman and chief executive, likes to say that Viking is “a thinking man’s cruise,” and I’d have to agree with that. Viking Star has no casino clattering away with noise and chain-smoking diehards. There are no on-board photographers, and you’ll never be hassled to have your picture taken with a guy in a whale costume on the gangway.

There is a massive on-board art collection featuring Norwegian artists, but no hard-sell “champagne” art auction.

In fact, there’s very little “hard-sell” for anything here on-board. Like the company’s European river cruises, beer, wine and soft drinks are complimentary with lunch and dinner — and reasonably priced outside of those hours. Bar menus have gratuities already built into the price, with no need for additional tips.

You also don’t have to shell out for shore excursions if you don’t want to: Viking includes a selection of complimentary tours in every port of call, along with optional ones that come at an additional charge. I’ve been very pleased with these complimentary tours so far, most of which are panoramic city tours operated by motorcoach or on-the-ground walking tours.

Starting with an overnight stay in Bergen, we then sailed for Lerwick, in Scotland’s Shetland Islands, before heading for Torshavn, in the Faroe Islands. A massive fall storm — not uncommon for the North Atlantic at this time of year — caused us to skip that port, but guests remained enthusiastic even as, like true Vikings, we battled 40-foot seas and Gale-force winds.

This voyage will be wrapping up in Montreal, which could explain why so many Canadians were on board. Other guests included an intoxicating mix of Americans, Brits and a smattering of Europeans who were eager for the unique opportunity to cross the Atlantic between Norway and Canada. Sailings like this are exceedingly rare, with most cruise lines opting to sail their repositioning voyages between England, Spain and the U.S.

As amazing as this itinerary was, it really doesn’t matter where Viking Star sails to. The on-board atmosphere is so relaxing that you’ll feel every bit as at home and welcomed in the Caribbean as you would in Norway or out on the North Sea. Every single public room is lined with books on travel, explorers, and great works of literature — and you can just pull one out and read it anywhere on the ship that you please. Board games, like Scrabble and Monopoly, adorn nearly every table in the ship’s multi-story atrium. Open deck spaces are plentiful, and the ship never feels crowded, even when it’s fully booked like this sailing was.

Viking Star sets sail from Montreal on Sunday, bound for New York. Like my crossing, that sailing sold out long ago. But currently there are still a couple of sailings with spots to be had on Viking’s inaugural season in the Caribbean, with 11-day “West Indies Explorer” voyages departing from San Juan from mid-October to February 2017.

Viking’s ocean cruises are a master class in how good vacations should be. Restful, educational and luxurious, my 15 days aboard Viking Star reminded me of the best days of classic cruising, reimagined and updated for generations to come.

Happy cruising.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/transatlantic-crossing-the-star-attraction-for-viking/feed0ftdc_vikingstar_ta_nanortalik-0602aaronpsaundersHolland America’s refreshed Eurodam sparkleshttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/holland-americas-refreshed-eurodam-sparkles
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/holland-americas-refreshed-eurodam-sparkles#respondWed, 28 Sep 2016 14:48:02 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761280]]>I recently stepped aboard Holland America Line’s beautiful 2,104-guest Eurodam for a look at the fresh new innovations that were recently added to the ship. These include substantially refreshed suites and brand-new innovations that have been transplanted from the line’s forthcoming new ship, Koningsdam.

The results are exceptional, taking Holland America’s greatest strengths and accenting them to provide an even richer onboard experience that guests likely won’t be able to pull themselves away from.

These new enhancements start at the suite level. Holland America didn’t just give these luxurious rooms some new soft fabrics and slap a coat of paint on the balcony; they were rebuilt from the ground up. Wall surfaces, carpeting and furniture is completely new, and bathrooms have been entirely redone in a newer, more attractive colour scheme. Neptune and Pinnacle Suites benefit from a Bose Bluetooth speaker that can wirelessly connect to your iPhone playlist, and you can charge that iPhone with the new USB power outlets situated bedside. Suite lighting is also much improved, with dedicated reading lights on either side of the bed, and soothing pot lights recessed into the ceiling.

Other suite enhancements include a massive LED flat-panel television screen inset into the wall, hooked up to a video-on-demand system that features complimentary movies and television shows. If you want to watch the entire series of Downton Abbey, Holland America’s got it.

Moving onto the public rooms, my undisputed favorite addition to the Eurodam is the Gallery Bar, which takes the place of the former Northern Lights disco. First introduced in 2002 aboard Zuiderdam, the Northern Lights disco never quite found its footing. Now, this formerly unassuming public room tucked away on the port side of Deck 2 has been given new purpose and a dramatic new look.

Stylish and sophisticated, the Gallery Bar includes an exclusive cocktail menu created by famed mixologist Dale DeGroff. My favorite: the “‘Slightly Less Than Perfect’ Perfect Manhattan’ – it’s refreshing and decidedly elegant.

The cocktail list perfectly fits in with the room, which is itself quite elegant. New furnishings accompany a bevvy of eclectic works of art. This is a real winner for Holland America.

Just outside the Gallery Bar, on the starboard side of the ship, is the Billboard Onboard venue, part of Holland America’s new Music Walk. You can get custom cocktails here, too, with musically-inspired names that are the perfect accompaniment to the live music.

One of Holland America’s strengths has always been its live onboard music. Billboard Onboard takes that to a new level, with musical performances by two pianists performing at the same time here.

You might remember the former Piano Bar that used to be here: a cool but closed-off space that guests either walked past or couldn’t get seating in. Now, with the walls completely removed and the Sports Bar gone, the new Billboard Onboard encourages guests walking past the casino or to and from the main show lounge to stop and linger.

If you’re looking for a more cerebral experience, head up to the Lincoln Center State, formerly known as the Explorer’s Lounge. Here, world-class musicians perform chamber music each evening, with mid-afternoon performances offered as well. Calling this “chamber music” seems a shame; what you really get are great classical music performances that range from, well, classic pieces to new takes on popular songs, including classical versions of songs performed by artists like Radiohead.

Finally, you can’t beat the music in B.B. King’s Blues Club – also on Deck 2, and just aft of the Billboard Onboard venue. Here, B.B. King’s All-Stars Band brings the best of Memphis music to the sea – and it works surprisingly well. This venue utilises the Queen’s Lounge, and ironically it seems better suited to B.B. King’s Blues Club, with its crescent seating arrangement and cozy high-backed lounge booths.

Holland America is refitting their existing Vista-class fleet with these new features over the next year, and Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Volendam and Zaandam will receive the new Suite Enhancements during their regularly-scheduled drydocks.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/holland-americas-refreshed-eurodam-sparkles/feed0ftdc_hollandamerica_eurodam-0050aaronpsaundersLive from Greenland aboard Viking Starhttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/live-from-greenland-aboard-viking-star
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/live-from-greenland-aboard-viking-star#respondTue, 27 Sep 2016 02:00:03 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761558]]>QAQORTOQ, Greenland – It’s rare to find a transatlantic crossing that sails from Bergen, Norway to Montreal, and rarer still to find one that determines its ports of call based on the historic routes of the early Viking explorers. But that’s exactly what my current voyage with Viking Cruises is all about.

A week ago, I set sail from Bergen aboard the 930 guest Viking Star, which makes her maiden journey to North America on this voyage. In the past, if you wanted to take a Viking cruise (either on the oceans or on one of the line’s river cruises), you had to fly to Europe. Simple as that. But when Viking Star arrives in Montreal on Sunday, October 2, 2016, she’ll officially bring the line’s award-winning ocean cruises to North America this winter.

Viking Star’s maiden transatlantic crossing is one for the books. Few itineraries are as unique and well-thought-out as this one, which included ports stops in Lerwick, Shetland Islands; Reykjavik, Iceland; Prince Christian Sound; Nanortalik; and Qaqortoq, Greenland, and in Canada, L’Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland; Saguenay, Quebec; and Quebec City.

A port call in Torshavn, on the Faroe Islands, was also part of the original itinerary, but an early fall storm on the North Atlantic saw those plans understandably scuttled as, like a true Viking, Viking Star battled heavy seas and gale-force winds as we raced towards Reykjavik.

Viking has designed my current voyage to appeal to true explorers, and to that end, it almost feels like an expedition cruise – one where guests are free to choose to do as much or as little as they wish. Tours range from simple walking tours or motorcoach excursions to authentic, “Home Hosted” visits that showcase the local way of life in a particular port of call.

Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen likes to say that this is the “Thinking Man’s Cruise”, and I’d have to agree. Books – hundreds of them – are placed in nearly every public room throughout the ship, covering famous Norwegian and worldwide explorers, Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, and biographies of those who have enhanced and encouraged travel around the globe. It’s basically the library in my fantasy house. Read one in the lounge, or take it to your stateroom – or out on deck.

The attention to detail here aboard Viking Star is so far elevated above most of the line’s competitors, it nearly puts them into luxury cruise territory (Viking, for now, considers itself to be a premium to upper premium cruise line). To that end, beer, wine and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner, and additional charge cocktails are reasonably priced. A cocktail will run you just $7.50 – including gratuity – while the drink of the day is offered for a paltry $5.

Other inclusions here aboard Viking Star: free stem-to-stern WiFi; complimentary specialty restaurants; a complimentary mini-bar that’s stocked according to your stateroom grade; and a selection of complimentary excursions in each and every port of call. These are typically in-depth motorcoach or walking tours, guided by professional guides, while optional, additional-cost tours might include more elaborate adventures like flightseeing or whale-watching.

If you want to do your own thing, city maps, designed by Viking, are provided at every port – even today, in relatively small Qaqortoq, Greenland. These are real maps, not some heavily altered map that other cruise lines trot out to advertise their “preferred” shopping partners.

Viking is also noteworthy for what it doesn’t include: there are no whirring casinos, tacky “champagne” art auctions, and extra-revenue hard-sells at every turn. If you want a drink here onboard Viking Star, you simply ask for one – and no bartender or waiter will ever ask if you’d like to have it served in the “souvenir cup” for another $10. Viking Star also has complimentary laundrettes on every passenger accommodation deck, with no fees to use the machines, or for the laundry detergent.

Onboard cuisine is a blend of European and Scandinavian dishes, along with classic North American favorites. The Norwegian Poached Salmon – a favorite of Torstein Hagen’s – is available every evening in the dining room, and is one of my go-to dishes onboard. Mamsen’s, a Norwegian-themed deli up on Deck 7 near the Explorer’s Lounge, serves up traditional recipies culled from the Hagen family cookbook. Be sure you go for the heart-shaped waffles at breakfast, and return for the Norwegian split pea soup, the latter being only served at ten pm.

Viking Star sets sail from Montreal on October 2, bound for New York. Like my crossing, that sailing sold out long ago. But there are still some spots to be had on Viking’s inaugural season in the Caribbean, with 11-day “West Indies Explorer” voyages departing from San Juan from October of this year to February, 2017. Ports of call on these West Indies voyages include Tortola, BVI; St. John’s, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia; Bridgetown, Barbados; Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.

Viking’s ocean cruises are a masterclass in how good vacations should be. Restful, educational and luxurious, my 15-days aboard Viking Star reminded me of the best days of classic cruising, reimagined and updated for generations to come.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop-culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

Big picture: Miss Peregrine’s is based an original, bestselling novel, but it’s not so one-of-a-kind. It’s like Hogwarts meets Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Living outside of time and space, its “mutant” school children are known as “peculiars” — from telepathic twins to an invisible boy. (Tim Burton, a man likely raised at a similar school for oddballs, directs the fantastical family drama.) When the young Jake (Asa Butterfield) discovers the school, he is quickly pulled into the role of protector, time traveller and wartime leader — a role once inhabited by his grandfather. It seems peculiars are locked in an age-old war with evil forces, including what appear to be bipedal aliens from Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic.

Meanwhile, Masterminds is Ocean’s Eleven meets Guy Ritchie gangster meets Dumb and Dumber — and it’s based on a true story. Zach Galifianakis plays David, a mullet-sporting, clueless armoured-vehicle driver who is conned by a manipulative colleague (Kristen Wiig) into robbing $17 million for a band of brainless bandits (led by Owen Wilson). When David manages the impossible, the police close in, the conspirators take the loot, and he finds a hitman on his trail. (Ah, America, where stupidity and wealth are more than occasional soulmates.)

Forecast: The weirdos win the day at the box office. But if your kids get confused at Miss Peregrine’s reality-bending plot, just tell them the movie is about The X-Men as kids, dressing as old-time carnies to go undercover. As for Masterminds, I can’t be the only one would have preferred to watch a dramedy called Zach Galifianakis’s Home for Peculiar Children.

Honourable mention: Deepwater Horizon. Mark Wahlberg plays yet another blue-collar hero, this time working on the Deepwater Horizon during the infamous oilrig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. This is obviously based on a true story, but Hollywood has no shame. Don’t be surprised to find Wahlberg battling an oil-slicked Godzilla by the time the credits roll.

Big picture: It’s like Disney World meets The Truman Show meets Lost … meets Games of Thrones on steroids. At face value, Westworld is about an Old West-themed amusement park of the future. Populated by lifelike robots programmed never to kill warm-blooded customers, it’s a fantasyland where humans can play out their baser instincts. Shootouts? Check. Brothels? Check. Brothel shootouts? Check. Saloons on every corner? You betcha. But what if the park’s AIs are more than just toys? What if they can feel, and remember the various indignities thrust upon them in the name of entertainment? (Friendly advice: do not screen this series for any future robots in your service; I’ll even be making sure that my toaster can’t see the TV from the kitchen.)

Meanwhile, Aftermath is sci-fi drama with a bit of everything. Doomsday meteors. Mass vanishings. Demonic possessions. Plagues. Serpent gods. And that’s just your average Monday in this post-apocalyptic world. It stars real-life couple James Tupper and Anne Heche as Joshua and Karen Copeland, heads of a family trying to survive this Armageddon of Armageddons.

Forecast: This is how the west was won: quality writing, superb acting, a mysterious plot and a massive budget. Westworld is the show we will still be talking about after GOT’s finale. On a side note, other futuristic robot theme parks I’d pay to enter: Tribbles World (those adorable Star Trek furballs! Everywhere!), Modern Family World (where you get to play a Pritchett or a Dunphy!), Shonda Rhimes World (all murder and annoying flashbacks, all the time!), Fraggle Rock World (live Fraggles!) and Glee Westworld (shootouts with robotic glee-club singers!)

Big picture: Van the Man may be 71, but he still seems capable of a wild night in the recording studio. He releases his first collection of music in four years with 12 new originals, plus a cover of Share Your Love with Me.

Meanwhile, the Drive-By Truckers unleash a politically charged rock album on the cusp of a divisive American presidential election. With tracks titles like Filthy and Fried and topics like racially motivated police shootings, the NRA, and people who still want to fly the Confederate flag, this is rare modern music with a message. The veteran alt-country rockers from the south are sure to court some controversy back home (the Dixie Chicks are finally off the hook).

Finally, Bon Iver cheers up (a little) and makes some noise (beyond his usual whispering) on his third album. (Don’t worry, he still sports an epic hipster beard.) Otherwise known as Justin Vernon, the talented songwriter who largely ignored his famous Bon Iver moniker during five years of collaboration with the likes of Volcano Choir and Kanye West.

Forecast: It’s just like the lottery; pick three. (Prediction: Nickelback’s next album will be called Canadian Band and dissect the perils like hockey hair and standing in endless Tim Hortons’ lines, and end with a dirge to an empty 24 of Molson Canadian.

Honourable mention: Pixies (Head Carrier). There’s no head scratching here; the magic is back. A solid return to form from the Bostonian indie-rockers after a false-start comeback album in 2014. Abracadabra!

For years, HGTV personality Scott McGillivray has risen from savvy entrepreneur and skilled contractor to teaching homeowners how to make smart renovation and investment decisions. With the success of his long-running series, Income Property, he became well-versed in advising and guiding homeowners on how to turn their own homes into money-generating rental spaces.

But in his new 10-part series Moving the McGillivrays, which kicks off Sept. 25 on HGTV, the cameras turn the home buying and renovation focus on to the now-38-year-old, along with wife Sabrina — a schoolteacher in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) — and their two daughters, Myah, 4, and Layla, 2.

“The idea went back to a discussion I had with the network,” McGillivray said. “I was looking to take a break from my other series because at the time I was working on my own home and trying to move. And they came back to me and said, ‘Well, why don’t we do a show about that?’ ”

“I thought that seemed like a good idea. It turned out to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

In the series opener, the McGillivrays realize the space in their current digs is becoming too tight and need to find something that would not only better accommodate their needs, but also the needs of their two young girls. Among those priorities for their dream home: Privacy, being in proximity to parents and offering plenty of property and storage space.

Scott McGillivray at work on a renovation. [Richard Sibbald]

Scott and Sabrina stroll through three styles they feel would ideally suit their preferences: one is a Tudor-style house, another is a ready-to-move-in mini-mansion and the third is a tucked-away house with a spacious property.

“We actually were looking for a home for over a year,” McGillivray said. “It’s not like we just went to look at just those three properties.”

In examining the prospective houses, McGillivray’s contractor sensibilities also kick in — but with a twist. As he implies in the opening episode, new home buyers should be looking beyond the dreamy layout of an island kitchen, a spiralling staircase, the spacious master bedroom, and that big backyard space. And even if said buyers have a knack for renovating, there might be a few unexpected surprises after the purchase.

“It’s one thing to be working with homeowners. As the host of a show, you’re always looking to find the problems of other people’s projects,” says McGillivray, who’s handed out plenty of his expertise on the likes of Income Property, Flipping the Block, Canada’s Handyman Challenge and All-American Handyman.

“It’s another thing to be the homeowner. When it’s your own project, you’re like, ‘No, no! No problems here! No big deal! Don’t show that!’ ”

And in the house the McGillivrays wound up selecting in the GTA, “We pretty much knew that we were either going to have to do some major, major work or start from scratch to get exactly what we were looking for,” Scott said.

“I gotta be able to sleep at night knowing this was going to be my dream home.”

Scott McGillivray at work on a renovation. [Richard Sibbald]

Central to Moving The McGillivrays is the more personal scope of the show. Apart from the viewing, decision-making and renovating processes when filming began a year ago (and is continuing), the McGillivrays also incorporate how they juggle their daily work and routines, including parenting.

“This is real life,” he said. “The show evolved from a very typical ‘let’s find a property and start working on it’ to a completely different type of show where there’s way more going on.”

Early on in the series, there’s a glimpse of McGillivray’s younger days starting out as a TV show host, and also living out of a basement of a house while buying and renovating other homes and renting these out to students. That early accomplishment of his own would ultimately lead him to the relatable — albeit busy — life he leads now.

“People will be able to identify with our family at some point,” he said. “We are a normal family going through what could be one of the many stressful things in all our lives: move and renovate, all while having children growing up.”

As the series progresses, there will be room reveals as decisions get made and the McGillivrays’ dream home is completed.

McGillivray also fits in time to help build a home for another family in need.

While much of the series puts the focus squarely on his own family, McGillivray also fits in time to help build a home for another family in need.

“For 10 years, I’ve been working with Habitat For Humanity at different levels,” he said. “At first, it was thought that by doing the show, there wouldn’t be time to work with Habitat this year. It just wasn’t an option for me to have the time to refocus on something that was also important to me.

“So instead we decided to make it part of the show, and we were able to do even more than we normally would — by helping to build, contribute to fundraise and help a partner family that really deserved a home. It’s something we’re all quite proud to have accomplished.”

BONUS FOOTAGE
After each episode, fans can visit HGTV.ca for two new digital short series featuring Scott McGillivray with his family and never-before-seen rooms to be revealed later in the season. In the candid series Kick Back with Scott, the contractor’s family, including his mother, wife, daughters, brother and best friend all sit down with the star to ask burning questions and uncover never before heard stories. When he’s not busy being a contractor, McGillivray is busy being a dad and that means driving his two girls around. These trips result in hilarious and candid conversations between him and his daughters, with the best moments caught on tape in the new series Moments with the McGillivrays. Additional how-to videos and heartwarming personal stories from McGillivray’s life go live each week on the site.

Moving the McGillivrays debuts Sept. 25, 9 p.m. ET on HGTV

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/scott-mcgillivray-makes-renos-personal-in-new-hgtv-show/feed0Moving the McGillivrayspostmedianews1Moving the McGillivraysMoving the McGillivraysTV news is stripped bare in new show Notorioushttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/tv-news-is-stripped-bare-in-new-show-notorious
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/tv-news-is-stripped-bare-in-new-show-notorious#respondWed, 21 Sep 2016 21:11:34 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761517]]>There’s no business like show business. But what happens when the news business becomes show business? Judging from the new TV drama Notorious, things get shadier than those sunglasses Corey Hart wears at night.

In Notorious, top TV news producer Julia George (Piper Perabo) and defence attorney Jake Gregorian (Daniel Sunjata) have a secret symbiotic relationship — she gives him airtime, he gives her ratings-bait — that’s built to further both of their careers.

It’s based on the real-life dynamic between Larry King Live news producer Wendy Walker and criminal defence attorney Mark Geragos. Kevin Zegers (Gracepoint) plays Jake’s client Oscar, a billionaire who’s caught in a hit-and-run that lands a teenager in the hospital.

“I’ve seen in the past five or 10 years the difference in how the news is told, and how it’s much more entertainment than it used to be. They obviously still do the news, but it’s as much about getting viewers,” says Zegers, a native of Woodstock, Ont.

“If I watch CNN, it’s a different animal than straight news-telling used to be. I don’t know if that’s bad or good, but it’s just the way it is.”

Part of the equation is the changing way in which citizens consume their news. It’s not just TV ratings that matter. It’s clickbait and viral clips and social media buzz, oh my.

Kevin Zegers stars in Notorious. [Kevin Foley/ABC]

“We don’t live in the Walter Cronkite world, where everyone sits around for an hour to find out what’s going on. Most of my friends — certainly my younger friends — they go to Twitter for their information or Facebook,” Zegers says.

“People will find out what they want. You can always find a station that has your point of view.”

Notorious isn’t the first TV series to examine the behind-the-scenes antics at a news station, but it’s a long way from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Witness the premiere, in which Julia has sex in her office mere minutes before the broadcast goes live.

Notorious also banks on the kind of pull-back-the-curtain spirit that makes Lifetime’s drama UnREAL, about the producers of a dating reality show, a hit with both critics and viewers.

But perhaps a more apt contrast comes with HBO’s now-defunct The Newsroom, starring Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer. While that series focused on a news team that aspired to high journalistic standards despite corporate and commercial challenges, Notorious delights in the murkier matters.

“Certainly the stuff at the news station (in Notorious), I thought it was very much like (The Newsroom). I love that show. I think it’s so interesting to find out how things get on the show and what doesn’t, and how stories are skewed for specific viewers,” says Zegers.

“I definitely found that to be a good template for what this show is. It moves really fast — this is not a slow-burn show. It comes at you fast and hard, and there’s a lot of different things going on.”

Notorious debuts Thursday, Sept. 22, on CTV/ABC

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/tv-news-is-stripped-bare-in-new-show-notorious/feed0DANIEL SUNJATA, KEVIN ZEGERSmhank2012KEVIN ZEGERSLittle niceties count aboard Silver Spirithttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/little-niceties-count-aboard-silver-spirit
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/little-niceties-count-aboard-silver-spirit#respondWed, 21 Sep 2016 14:32:44 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761459]]>Earlier this year, I sat on the aft deck aboard Silversea’s ultra-luxurious Silver Spirit, martini in hand, watching the sun set over Monte Carlo. The 2016 Mediterranean season still has plenty of sailings left, and Silver Spirit has more than her fair share of great voyages.

Monte Carlo is the halfway point in Silver Spirit’s six-day sampler sailing between Barcelona and Rome that also featured calls on Sete, France; Sanary-sur-Mer, France; Livorno, Italy; and Olbia, Sardinia. Silversea’s guests are well-travelled and discerning, and the line’s itineraries strike a nice balance between big-name ports of call and smaller, off-the-beaten-path locales.

On Silversea, little niceties are everywhere. If you’ve ever boarded a megaship, you’ll know that just getting onboard can take forever. With Silversea, my embarkation in Barcelona took less than five minutes from the time I arrived at the pier until I stepped onboard the Silver Spirit. A glass of champagne welcomes guests onboard, and your luggage frequently beats you to your suite.

Although she’s currently the largest ship in the Silversea fleet, Silver Spirit carries just 540 guests — most of whom will stay in suites measuring at least 376 square feet. Every suite features the services of a butler, who can unpack and pack your luggage or arrange dinner or shore excursion reservations. Your butler will also offer up three different kinds of toiletries (Bulgari, Ferragamo and a hypoallergenic brand), and nine different pillow types to complement your stay.

Silversea, of course, is famous for its inclusions. Gratuities aren’t expected. Drinks of all kinds — from simple tonic water to hand-crafted cocktails — are included in the price of the voyage. So are most dining venues onboard. The line has even rolled out inclusive shore excursions and Internet access on select voyages.

I’ve sailed a number of times aboard this beautiful ship, and returning to Silversea feels like a homecoming. Service is polished and exacting, but never stuffy.

New features abound aboard the Silver Spirit, and most revolve around culinary life. Dining room menus have been entirely redesigned with new smaller-plate selections that encourage guests to sample five, six and even seven small courses in The Restaurant. The line has also rolled out two brand new gourmet burger selections, revamped its casual Pool Grill menu, and substantially improved its nightly onboard entertainment offerings with its Artists of Silversea partnership.

One of Silversea’s coolest new onboard features aims to bring the ship closer to a private yacht. Known as “All Around Dining,” it enables you to order off of an extensive room-service style menu, anywhere in the ship, at any time of day or night — even outside of meal hours. I’ve never been hungry long enough on Silversea to feel the need to order a club sandwich in The Bar, but knowing the option is there is kind of nice.

The voyage itself was charming. A full-day excursion from Sete took us to the medieval walled city of Carcassonne, while a full-day tour from Livorno brought us to the nearby jewel that is Florence, Italy. Smaller towns like Sanary-sur-Mer delighted us with local markets and a more laid-back, less-rushed pace. Cruise ships are rare here, and locals welcomed us with a musical procession and open arms.

Silver Spirit’s Mediterranean season this year encompasses 20 different voyages departing through November. They range in length from this short six-day sampler (which, by the way, is a great introduction to luxury cruising) to the massive 16-day Westbound Transatlantic Crossing between Barcelona, Spain and Bridgetown, Barbados, that departs Nov. 5.

Next year, Silversea’s newest ship — the 596-guest Silver Muse — will join Silver Spirit in the Mediterranean. She sets sail on her maiden voyage on April 10, 2017 from Monte Carlo.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/little-niceties-count-aboard-silver-spirit/feed0ftdc_silverspirit_5609_sanary-0158aaronpsaundersNow that Brangelina is done, is there new hope for Brennifer?http://o.canada.com/entertainment/now-that-brangelina-is-done-is-there-new-hope-for-brennifer
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/now-that-brangelina-is-done-is-there-new-hope-for-brennifer#respondTue, 20 Sep 2016 17:43:52 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=761509]]>It’s the moment Jennifer Aniston fans everywhere have been waiting for!

Now that Brangelina is officially over, Brad Pitt can finally go crawling back to ex-wife Aniston to beg for her forgiveness. Then, their flame will magically be reignited, and we will all live happily ever after … Right?

Not so fast, #teamjennifer.

Lest we forget the damage that has been done. Let’s refresh.

Movie star Pitt and Friends star Aniston met in 1998 and married in 2000. They were one of those couples who were so cute, they even resembled each other. Until She — the undeniably sexy Angelina Jolie — came along. Those lips! That bod! Oh boy.

Suddenly, in January 2005, Aniston filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences — all while media reports of Pitt and Jolie’s on-set sparks while filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith enveloped them like musky perfume. Just months later, Pitt and Jolie proved to be more than a homewrecking fling. They were much worse: A supercouple with a conjoined name. Enter children (six in total, though Jolie had adopted Maddox, now 15, in 2002), impressive humanitarian efforts and an eventual wedding at their estate in France.

Aniston was shattered. Or at least that’s what the tabloids have been telling us for the past decade. Nearly every photo published of the actress since the breakup has accompanied a caption or headline mentioning Pitt. Look, here’s Aniston looking sad (It’s all Brad’s fault!). Here’s a first look at Jen’s reported baby bump (Is it Brad’s?). Aniston is engaged (What does Brad have to say about this?!).

With ammunition like this, it’s no wonder #teamjennifer is still going strong.

With ammunition like this, it’s no wonder #teamjennifer is still going strong. Tuesday’s Brangelina breakup news fuelled the fire to dangerous heights, with a nauseating onslaught of smug Aniston memes and GIFs taking over social media. They even posted one of her, in character as Rachel on Friends, waving pompoms.

There’s also an ironically timed rumour circulating that will give Brennifer fans something to cheer about: Aniston, 47, and current hubby Justin Theroux, 45, may be on the road to Splitsville. Several websites claim the couple, who got married in August 2015, have been arguing a lot these days about where to purchase a vacation home. Apparently that’s some sort of celebrity couple deal-breaker, along the same lines of fighting over which model of Ferrari to buy or how many diamonds to encrust the bathtub with.

Whatever the case, all is apparently not well for Aniston and her current beau.

Does that up the probability of a second chance with Pitt, 52, a newly single father of six who, according the reports, may already be seeing another woman and/or be dealing with substance abuse issues?

Probably not.

This is not what trendsetters meant when they said the ’90s are back. Even if Aniston and Pitt do find themselves both suddenly single, the odds of a Friends reboot far outweigh the odds of a Brennifer reboot. Plus, who says #teamjennifer has even forgiven Brad?

“To effectively address the refugee crisis, we need the power and action of many,” he told us.

In June, his charity, the Radcliffe Foundation, launched a competition for Canadian filmmakers to produce a one-minute film that raises awareness about refugees and inspires Canadians to action.

Craig was asked to help judge submissions, alongside director Atom Egoyan and musician Sarah McLachlan and others. From 10 entries, they chose the top three. Now, until Sept. 23, Canadians can vote for their favourite. It won’t take long — Craig watched the videos on his phone in the back of a taxi — and we promise these will be the most powerful and moving three minutes of your week.

The winning film will be screened at the Vancouver Film Festival, Sept. 29 to Oct. 14, and Giustra hopes broadcasters and movie theatres will pick it up and show the video to spread awareness.

The one-minute format was chosen to fit modern viewing trends. “People today, especially the younger generations, consume news and information through shorter pieces, I saw the need for a short film that could engage this audience,” says Giustra.

Although just one winner will be chosen, the three finalists are more powerful when viewed together. They form a triptych that beautifully illustrates, from beginning to end, the refugee crisis and Canada’s potential impact.

Is Canada done with the 30,000 refugees we’ve welcomed into the country, or will we do more?

Begin with Helpful Hand, directed by Vancouver’s Alexandru Nagy. Without words, the simple but gorgeous animation immerses you in the fear, despair and hope of one little girl fleeing carnage for Canada. This short film captures the potential within every refugee when they’re given a hand up (as opposed to a handout).

Those granted asylum arrive in Canada with little more than the clothes they wear. Helping meet their many needs isn’t just a job for our governments and refugee sponsors. We can all play a part.

Humanity, directed by another Vancouverite, Zeeshan Parwez, is an empowering call to action that captures the many ways Canadians can continue to make a difference in the lives of those we have granted refuge — from donating clothes and household items to helping refugees find jobs and connect with community services.

And then there’s our personal favourite — Show the World by documentary company The Cutting Factory. The film interviews Ian Crerar, an entrepreneur from Kingston, Ont., who says he “won the lottery” when he sponsored a Syrian family. In one shot, the Syrian and Canadian families are crammed around a tiny table, sharing a meal. There’s no fear or clash of cultures. “At the end of the day, good people are good people, and we all have the same moral values,” says Crerar.

Those heartwarming images of shared joy, of two families from different worlds discovering they’re just the same were incredibly moving and put this film over the top for us.

In the face of the refugee crisis, Canada is in a much different position than the nations of Europe. We do not have hundreds of thousands of desperate people crashing upon our shores. Ours is a burden of conscience, as we can choose who and how many we welcome.

What will we do with that choice?

That’s the question for Canadians to answer: Are we done with the 30,000 refugees we’ve welcomed into the country, or will we do more?

The message in these films is that, if we choose to do more, we will show the world what a truly compassionate nation looks like.